Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery

Abstract High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems but face critical challenges of dendrite and corrosion in metal negative electrodes. To address these issues, we report an aqueous cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics stru...

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Main Authors: Yang-Feng Cui, Hao-Bin Song, Jing-Jing Yao, Qi Hao, Xue-Liang Li, Yi-Fan Li, Bin-Bin Guo, Yun-Hai Zhu, Hui Ying Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60740-2
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author Yang-Feng Cui
Hao-Bin Song
Jing-Jing Yao
Qi Hao
Xue-Liang Li
Yi-Fan Li
Bin-Bin Guo
Yun-Hai Zhu
Hui Ying Yang
author_facet Yang-Feng Cui
Hao-Bin Song
Jing-Jing Yao
Qi Hao
Xue-Liang Li
Yi-Fan Li
Bin-Bin Guo
Yun-Hai Zhu
Hui Ying Yang
author_sort Yang-Feng Cui
collection DOAJ
description Abstract High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems but face critical challenges of dendrite and corrosion in metal negative electrodes. To address these issues, we report an aqueous cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics structure-breaking electrolyte composed of CdCl2 and NH4Cl. The addition of NH4Cl induces the formation of dual structure breakers, NH4 + and tetrachlorocomplex ([CdCl4]2–), which facilitate fast charge transfer kinetics in aqueous cadmium-metal batteries and endow dendrite-free/corrosion-resistant capabilities to Cd negative electrodes. This tailored electrolyte realizes a convincing Coulombic efficiency (99.93%) for Cd plating/stripping behavior at a high Cd utilization of 55%, making it suitable for practical applications. Moreover, the fast-kinetics aqueous cadmium-metal batteries exhibit remarkable compatibility with diverse types of positive electrodes, including conversion-, coordination-, intercalation- and capacitance-type, offering enhanced rate performance and durable rechargeable stability. These results establish a robust and scalable aqueous battery design for sustainable energy storage systems.
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id doaj-art-85dfae0c402d4bba9b550fd3f37f22d6
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-85dfae0c402d4bba9b550fd3f37f22d62025-08-20T04:01:40ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-60740-2Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal batteryYang-Feng Cui0Hao-Bin Song1Jing-Jing Yao2Qi Hao3Xue-Liang Li4Yi-Fan Li5Bin-Bin Guo6Yun-Hai Zhu7Hui Ying Yang8Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang UniversityPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignState Key Laboratory of New Textile Materials and Advanced Processing, Wuhan Textile UniversityPillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and DesignAbstract High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems but face critical challenges of dendrite and corrosion in metal negative electrodes. To address these issues, we report an aqueous cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics structure-breaking electrolyte composed of CdCl2 and NH4Cl. The addition of NH4Cl induces the formation of dual structure breakers, NH4 + and tetrachlorocomplex ([CdCl4]2–), which facilitate fast charge transfer kinetics in aqueous cadmium-metal batteries and endow dendrite-free/corrosion-resistant capabilities to Cd negative electrodes. This tailored electrolyte realizes a convincing Coulombic efficiency (99.93%) for Cd plating/stripping behavior at a high Cd utilization of 55%, making it suitable for practical applications. Moreover, the fast-kinetics aqueous cadmium-metal batteries exhibit remarkable compatibility with diverse types of positive electrodes, including conversion-, coordination-, intercalation- and capacitance-type, offering enhanced rate performance and durable rechargeable stability. These results establish a robust and scalable aqueous battery design for sustainable energy storage systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60740-2
spellingShingle Yang-Feng Cui
Hao-Bin Song
Jing-Jing Yao
Qi Hao
Xue-Liang Li
Yi-Fan Li
Bin-Bin Guo
Yun-Hai Zhu
Hui Ying Yang
Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
Nature Communications
title Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
title_full Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
title_fullStr Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
title_full_unstemmed Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
title_short Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery
title_sort dual structure breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium metal battery
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60740-2
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