Move over Lithium, Zinc batteries are here
New development promises a new age of Zinc batteries
Zinc batteries are often touted as promising alternatives to Lithium batteries (as are Sodium, Potassium, and a bunch of others).
However, they suffer from a number of problems — one of which is that very thin needle-like structures start forming from the electrode and grow into the electrolyte. At some point, they will short circuit the battery, effectively making it useless.
(Lithium batteries also have this problem).
The other issue with Zinc batteries is that they react with water in the electrolyte releasing hydrogen.
But they also have many advantages — such as high energy density, and specific capacity — due to which we keep trying to make them work.
Now researchers in China have come up with a solution in the form of a new organic electrolyte that is made from ethylene glycol and zinc tetrafluoroborate hydrate (Zn(BF4)2).
They form a ZnF2 protective layer that guards against needle formation (technically called dendrites).
The layer also suppresses side reactions.
The resulting hydrous Zn(BF4)2/EG electrolyte is non-flammable and works over a wide temperature range, from -30°C to 40°C.
The electrode can be cycled for over 4000 hours at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 and Coulombic efficiency of 99.4%.
This could be the beginning of a new set of safe, high-performance, and sustainable batteries.
link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00800-9
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