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Stabilized Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc Batteries Using Ethylene Glycol as Water Blocker
Author(s) -
Wang Nan,
Yang Yang,
Qiu Xuan,
Dong Xiaoli,
Wang Yonggang,
Xia Yongyao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.202001750
Subject(s) - ethylene glycol , aqueous solution , electrolyte , galvanic anode , anode , zinc , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrochemistry , plating (geology) , chemical engineering , materials science , organic chemistry , cathodic protection , electrode , engineering , geophysics , geology
Addressing the cost concerns and safety of zinc metal has stimulated research on mild aqueous Zn‐metal batteries. However, their application is limited by dendrite formation and H 2 evolution on the Zn anode. Here, ethylene glycol (EG) is proposed as additional water blocker to form localized high‐concentration electrolyte for aqueous Zn batteries. This unique solvation structure inhibits hydrate formation and facilitates close association of Zn 2+ and SO 4 2− , which alleviates undesired H 2 evolution and enables dendrite‐free Zn plating/stripping. Accordingly, a Zn//PQ‐MCT (phenanthrenequinone macrocyclic trimer) full cell with such electrolyte exhibits a very long cycling life (more than 8000 cycles). Furthermore, this EG‐based aqueous electrolyte is non‐flammable and inexpensive and prevents evaporation of water when open to the atmosphere, endowing aqueous Zn batteries with excellent safety performance and easy operability in practical applications.