Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries
Abstract Tuning anionic solvation structures and dynamic processes at solid–liquid interfaces is critical yet challenging for stabilizing Zn metal negative electrodes in Zn-ion batteries, particularly due to the issue of dendrite formation and hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, we show that highly h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61310-2 |
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| author | Xiayan Yao Zhi Wang Jianwei Guo Guoyu Qian Hongchen Wang Xuzhong Gong Dong Wang |
| author_facet | Xiayan Yao Zhi Wang Jianwei Guo Guoyu Qian Hongchen Wang Xuzhong Gong Dong Wang |
| author_sort | Xiayan Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Tuning anionic solvation structures and dynamic processes at solid–liquid interfaces is critical yet challenging for stabilizing Zn metal negative electrodes in Zn-ion batteries, particularly due to the issue of dendrite formation and hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, we show that highly hydrated SO4 2- can be effectively modulated under a strong magnetic field via the Paschen–Back effect on O-H vibrations, which reorients individual water molecules to manipulate Zn2+ solvation and protonated water clusters (H3O+). Molecular dynamics simulations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that the hydrated SO4 2-–H2O complexes promote Zn2+ nucleation and deposition on the (002) plane, with preferential oxygen adsorption inhibiting two-dimensional Zn2+ diffusion. Moreover, magnetizing the electrolyte disrupts the Grotthuss proton-transfer pathway, suppressing H2 evolution and further reducing dendrite formation. By employing inexpensive permanent magnets without external power, this magnetization strategy offers a practical, energy-efficient route to enhance both the stability and performance of zinc-based rechargeable batteries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-62baa8df88e047c5b36c7722abd8a387 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-62baa8df88e047c5b36c7722abd8a3872025-08-20T03:03:33ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-61310-2Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteriesXiayan Yao0Zhi Wang1Jianwei Guo2Guoyu Qian3Hongchen Wang4Xuzhong Gong5Dong Wang6National Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesNational Engineering Research Center of Green Recycling for Strategic Metal Resources, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Tuning anionic solvation structures and dynamic processes at solid–liquid interfaces is critical yet challenging for stabilizing Zn metal negative electrodes in Zn-ion batteries, particularly due to the issue of dendrite formation and hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, we show that highly hydrated SO4 2- can be effectively modulated under a strong magnetic field via the Paschen–Back effect on O-H vibrations, which reorients individual water molecules to manipulate Zn2+ solvation and protonated water clusters (H3O+). Molecular dynamics simulations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that the hydrated SO4 2-–H2O complexes promote Zn2+ nucleation and deposition on the (002) plane, with preferential oxygen adsorption inhibiting two-dimensional Zn2+ diffusion. Moreover, magnetizing the electrolyte disrupts the Grotthuss proton-transfer pathway, suppressing H2 evolution and further reducing dendrite formation. By employing inexpensive permanent magnets without external power, this magnetization strategy offers a practical, energy-efficient route to enhance both the stability and performance of zinc-based rechargeable batteries.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61310-2 |
| spellingShingle | Xiayan Yao Zhi Wang Jianwei Guo Guoyu Qian Hongchen Wang Xuzhong Gong Dong Wang Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries Nature Communications |
| title | Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries |
| title_full | Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries |
| title_fullStr | Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries |
| title_short | Paschen–Back effect modulation of SO4 2- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries |
| title_sort | paschen back effect modulation of so4 2 hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite free zn ion batteries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61310-2 |
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