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Interlayer Engineering of α‐MoO 3 Modulates Selective Hydronium Intercalation in Neutral Aqueous Electrolyte
Author(s) -
Zhang Haozhe,
Wu Weixing,
Liu Qiyu,
Yang Fan,
Shi Xin,
Liu Xiaoqing,
Yu Minghao,
Lu Xihong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202010073
Subject(s) - intercalation (chemistry) , hydronium , electrolyte , electrochemistry , aqueous solution , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , ionic bonding , diffusion , proton transport , electrode , materials science , ion , organic chemistry , biochemistry , physics , membrane , thermodynamics
Among various charge‐carrier ions for aqueous batteries, non‐metal hydronium (H 3 O + ) with small ionic size and fast diffusion kinetics empowers H 3 O + ‐intercalation electrodes with high rate performance and fast‐charging capability. However, pure H 3 O + charge carriers for inorganic electrode materials have only been observed in corrosive acidic electrolytes, rather than in mild neutral electrolytes. Herein, we report how selective H 3 O + intercalation in a neutral ZnCl 2 electrolyte can be achieved for water‐proton co‐intercalated α‐MoO 3 (denoted WP‐MoO 3 ). H 2 O molecules located between MoO 3 interlayers block Zn 2+ intercalation pathways while allowing smooth H 3 O + intercalation/diffusion through a Grotthuss proton‐conduction mechanism. Compared to α‐MoO 3 with a Zn 2+ ‐intercalation mechanism, WP‐MoO 3 delivers the substantially enhanced specific capacity (356.8 vs. 184.0 mA h g −1 ), rate capability (77.5 % vs. 42.2 % from 0.4 to 4.8 A g −1 ), and cycling stability (83 % vs. 13 % over 1000 cycles). This work demonstrates the possibility of modulating electrochemical intercalating ions by interlayer engineering, to construct high‐rate and long‐life electrodes for aqueous batteries.