In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries
Abstract Zn-air batteries (ZABs) present high energy density and high safety but suffer from low oxygen reaction reversibility and dendrite growth at Zn electrode in alkaline electrolytes. Non-alkaline electrolytes have been considered recently for improving the interfacial processes in ZABs. Howeve...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55239-1 |
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| author | Jiao Wang Shuang-Yan Lang Zhen-Zhen Shen Yan-Liang Zhang Gui-Xian Liu Yue-Xian Song Rui-Zhi Liu Bing Liu Rui Wen |
| author_facet | Jiao Wang Shuang-Yan Lang Zhen-Zhen Shen Yan-Liang Zhang Gui-Xian Liu Yue-Xian Song Rui-Zhi Liu Bing Liu Rui Wen |
| author_sort | Jiao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Zn-air batteries (ZABs) present high energy density and high safety but suffer from low oxygen reaction reversibility and dendrite growth at Zn electrode in alkaline electrolytes. Non-alkaline electrolytes have been considered recently for improving the interfacial processes in ZABs. However, the dynamic evolution and reaction mechanisms regulated by electrolytes at both the positive and Zn negative electrodes remain elusive. Herein, using in situ atomic force microscopy, we disclose that thin ZnO2 nanosheets deposit in non-alkaline electrolyte during discharge, followed by the formation of low-modulus products encircled around them. During recharge, the nanosheets are completely decomposed, revealing the favorable reversibility of the O2/ZnO2 chemistry. The circular outlines with low-modulus, composed of C = C and ZnCO3, are left which play a key role in promoting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during the subsequent cycles. In addition, in situ optical microscopy shows that Zn can be uniformly dissolved and deposited in non-alkaline electrolyte, with the formation of homogeneous solid electrolyte interphase. Our work provides straightforward evidence and in-depth understanding of the interfacial reactions at both electrode interfaces in non-alkaline electrolyte, which can inspire strategies of interfacial engineering and material design of advanced ZABs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a899f0012aa342f9bc70472d46f03cbf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-a899f0012aa342f9bc70472d46f03cbf2025-08-20T02:46:08ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-12-011511910.1038/s41467-024-55239-1In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteriesJiao Wang0Shuang-Yan Lang1Zhen-Zhen Shen2Yan-Liang Zhang3Gui-Xian Liu4Yue-Xian Song5Rui-Zhi Liu6Bing Liu7Rui Wen8Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesThermo Fisher Scientific LtdKey Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesSchool of Energy and Power Engineering, North University of ChinaKey Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesKey Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Zn-air batteries (ZABs) present high energy density and high safety but suffer from low oxygen reaction reversibility and dendrite growth at Zn electrode in alkaline electrolytes. Non-alkaline electrolytes have been considered recently for improving the interfacial processes in ZABs. However, the dynamic evolution and reaction mechanisms regulated by electrolytes at both the positive and Zn negative electrodes remain elusive. Herein, using in situ atomic force microscopy, we disclose that thin ZnO2 nanosheets deposit in non-alkaline electrolyte during discharge, followed by the formation of low-modulus products encircled around them. During recharge, the nanosheets are completely decomposed, revealing the favorable reversibility of the O2/ZnO2 chemistry. The circular outlines with low-modulus, composed of C = C and ZnCO3, are left which play a key role in promoting the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) during the subsequent cycles. In addition, in situ optical microscopy shows that Zn can be uniformly dissolved and deposited in non-alkaline electrolyte, with the formation of homogeneous solid electrolyte interphase. Our work provides straightforward evidence and in-depth understanding of the interfacial reactions at both electrode interfaces in non-alkaline electrolyte, which can inspire strategies of interfacial engineering and material design of advanced ZABs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55239-1 |
| spellingShingle | Jiao Wang Shuang-Yan Lang Zhen-Zhen Shen Yan-Liang Zhang Gui-Xian Liu Yue-Xian Song Rui-Zhi Liu Bing Liu Rui Wen In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries Nature Communications |
| title | In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries |
| title_full | In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries |
| title_fullStr | In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries |
| title_short | In situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non-alkaline Zn-air batteries |
| title_sort | in situ visualization of interfacial processes at nanoscale in non alkaline zn air batteries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55239-1 |
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