Boosting Cathode Activity and Anode Stability of Zn‐S Batteries in Aqueous Media Through Cosolvent‐Catalyst Synergy

Aqueous Zn−S battery with high energy density represents a promising large‐scale energy storage technology, but its application is severely hindered by the poor reversibility of both S cathode and Zn anode. Herein, we develop a “cocktail optimized” electrolyte containing tetraglyme (G4) and water as...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2022-10, Vol.61 (42), p.e202212666-n/a
Main Authors: Yang, Min, Yan, Zichao, Xiao, Jin, Xin, Wenli, Zhang, Lei, Peng, Huiling, Geng, Yaheng, Li, Junwei, Wang, Yunxiao, Liu, Li, Zhu, Zhiqiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aqueous solutions
Aqueous Zn−S Batteries
Batteries
Catalysts
Cathodes
Design optimization
Electrolyte
Electrolytes
Energy storage
Ether-Based Cosolvent
Ethers
Iodine Catalyst
Side reactions
Synergy
Zinc
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Aqueous Zn−S battery with high energy density represents a promising large‐scale energy storage technology, but its application is severely hindered by the poor reversibility of both S cathode and Zn anode. Herein, we develop a “cocktail optimized” electrolyte containing tetraglyme (G4) and water as co‐solvents and I2 as additive. The G4‐I2 synergy could activate efficient polar I3−/I− catalyst couple and shield the cathode from water, thus facilitating the conversion kinetics of S and suppressing the interfacial side reactions. Simultaneously, it could stabilize Zn anode by forming an organic–inorganic interphase upon cycling. With boosted electrodes reversibility, the Zn−S cell delivers a high capacity of 775 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1, and retains over 70 % capacity after 600 cycles at 4 A g−1. The advances can also be readily generalized to other ethers/water hybrid electrolytes, showing the universality of the “cocktail optimized” electrolyte design strategy. The reversible Zn−S chemistry in aqueous media is realized by introducing tetraglyme cosolvent and iodine catalyst. The cosolvent‐catalyst synergy can not only activate the polar I3−/I− catalyst couple for S conversion but also generate an organic–inorganic interphase on Zn in situ, thus resulting in boosted cathode activity and anode stability. The strategy presents a new paradigm to stabilize aqueous Zn−S batteries.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.202212666