Enhanced lifetime of the zinc–iodine batteries using hydrocarbon cation-exchange polymer-protected zinc anodes. (2nd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Qiliang; Schibli, Eric; Chen, Binyu; Holdcroft, Steven
• Is Part Of: Energy advances. Volume 1:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: 606
• Page End: 612
• Publication Date: 2022-08-02
• Subjects: Periodicals; Fuel cells; Electrochemistry; Chemical engineering; Thermoelectricity; 621.31242
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ya00171c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2753-1457

Abstract

Abstract : The electrochemical performance of the zinc–iodine battery is enhanced by employing a zinc anode protected by fluorine-free, cation-exchange polymer – sPPB. Abstract : The zinc–iodine battery is a cost-effective, safe and scalable energy-storage device, which is nevertheless hindered by dendrite formation on the Zn anode and crossover of triiodide anions to the anode. We report that deposition of a fluorine-free cation-exchange polymer, sulfophenylated poly(phenylene)biphenyl (sPPB), onto the Zn anode serves as a protection layer that significantly suppresses Zn dendrite growth and restricts unwanted reaction of triiodide ions at the anode. sPPB-protected Zn anodes possess a relatively low charging polarization overpotential, which is attributed to a lower energy barrier for the desolvation of Zn ions, as supported by DFT calculations. sPPB-protected Zn anodes exhibit a >10× lifetime compared to bare Zn anodes in the Zn//Zn symmetric cells. Aqueous sPPB-protected zinc–iodine batteries deliver an initial capacity of 174 mA h g −1 at 5C and retain 131 mA h g −1 after 4000 cycles.