Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder

Despite their inherently lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) have recently attracted interest as rechargeable energy storage devices due to their low cost and high operational and environmental safety. They are composed of metallic zinc as the...

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Main Authors: Pedro Pablo Machado Pico, Stefano Colonna, Fabio Ronci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Batteries
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/189
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author Pedro Pablo Machado Pico
Stefano Colonna
Fabio Ronci
author_facet Pedro Pablo Machado Pico
Stefano Colonna
Fabio Ronci
author_sort Pedro Pablo Machado Pico
collection DOAJ
description Despite their inherently lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) have recently attracted interest as rechargeable energy storage devices due to their low cost and high operational and environmental safety. They are composed of metallic zinc as the anode, an aqueous zinc salt electrolyte and a cathode capable of (de)intercalating Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions upon its (oxidation) reduction reaction. In this work, we studied a hybrid AZMB in which a dual-ion electrolyte containing both Zn<sup>2+</sup> and Li<sup>+</sup> ions was used in conjunction with a Li<sup>+</sup> ion intercalation cathode, i.e., LiFePO<sub>4</sub> (LFP), one of the most common, reliable, and cheap cathodes for LIBs. In this study, we present evidence that, thanks to its insolubility in water, ethyl cellulose (EC) can be effectively utilized as a binder for cathode membranes in AZMBs. Furthermore, its solubility in alcohol provides a significant advantage in avoiding the use of toxic solvents, contributing to a safer and more environmentally friendly approach to the formulation process.
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spelling doaj-art-e8c6b47863f9476cba48d247afa43abe2025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGBatteries2313-01052025-05-0111518910.3390/batteries11050189Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a BinderPedro Pablo Machado Pico0Stefano Colonna1Fabio Ronci2Istituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, ItalyIstituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, ItalyIstituto di Struttura della Materia-CNR (ISM-CNR), Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Roma, ItalyDespite their inherently lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) have recently attracted interest as rechargeable energy storage devices due to their low cost and high operational and environmental safety. They are composed of metallic zinc as the anode, an aqueous zinc salt electrolyte and a cathode capable of (de)intercalating Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions upon its (oxidation) reduction reaction. In this work, we studied a hybrid AZMB in which a dual-ion electrolyte containing both Zn<sup>2+</sup> and Li<sup>+</sup> ions was used in conjunction with a Li<sup>+</sup> ion intercalation cathode, i.e., LiFePO<sub>4</sub> (LFP), one of the most common, reliable, and cheap cathodes for LIBs. In this study, we present evidence that, thanks to its insolubility in water, ethyl cellulose (EC) can be effectively utilized as a binder for cathode membranes in AZMBs. Furthermore, its solubility in alcohol provides a significant advantage in avoiding the use of toxic solvents, contributing to a safer and more environmentally friendly approach to the formulation process.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/189aqueous zinc metal batterylithium iron phosphateethyl cellulosebinder
spellingShingle Pedro Pablo Machado Pico
Stefano Colonna
Fabio Ronci
Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
Batteries
aqueous zinc metal battery
lithium iron phosphate
ethyl cellulose
binder
title Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
title_full Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
title_fullStr Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
title_full_unstemmed Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
title_short Low-Cost, Sustainable Hybrid Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries Using Ethyl Cellulose as a Binder
title_sort low cost sustainable hybrid aqueous zinc metal batteries using ethyl cellulose as a binder
topic aqueous zinc metal battery
lithium iron phosphate
ethyl cellulose
binder
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/189
work_keys_str_mv AT pedropablomachadopico lowcostsustainablehybridaqueouszincmetalbatteriesusingethylcelluloseasabinder
AT stefanocolonna lowcostsustainablehybridaqueouszincmetalbatteriesusingethylcelluloseasabinder
AT fabioronci lowcostsustainablehybridaqueouszincmetalbatteriesusingethylcelluloseasabinder