Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer significant promise for large-scale applications due to their low cost,high safety,and sustainability,prompting researchers to address the key issues of zinc dendrite formation,anode side reactions, and cathode dissolution.Despite most current research focusing on optimizing either the anode or the cathode, achieving coordinated improvements in both electrodes is crucial for fully realizing the potential of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), and remains a significant challenge due to the complexity involved in balancing the performance of both electrodes. Herein, we propose a sacrificial agent-promoted protective strategy that enhances the performance of both the anode and cathode simultaneously. Specifically, the mercapto-containing sacrificial agent adsorbs on the Zn anode, localizing electrons around the thiol group to trigger an in-situ transformation reaction. This reaction forms a modulation layer that optimizes Zn2+ deposition. Concurrently, the agent promotes the formation of a protective MnO2 nanoparticle shell to reduce cathode dissolution. This strategy significantly enhances the cycling stability of both the Zn||Zn and MnO2||Zn cells, achieving 4.5 and 3 times longer performance,respectively,compared to those in ZnSO4 electrolyte.This work presents a simple and efficient dual-function approach that simultaneously stabilizes the Zn anode and suppresses Mn-based cathode dissolution, offering a promising pathway for the practical development of AZIBs.
Guochao Wan,Wenhao Sun,Lei Liu,Changming Mao,Zhonghua Zhang,Xiaosong Guo,Guicun Li
Reducing the free radicals associated with electrochemical reactions and the activity of H2O is an effective measure to inhibit side reactions and improve stability for rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries. Herein, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a popular dietary supplement for humans, is used as an innoxious and low-cost additive to scavenge free radicals and optimize the coordination condition for aqueous ZnSO4 electrolyte. Profiting from the double effects of MSM, the Zn∥Ti asymmetric cells exhibit excellent stability and display a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.5% in the aqueous MSM/ZnSO4 electrolyte for 1000 h, and the Zn∥Zn cells achieve a long cycle life of over 2000 h. In addition, MSM can effectively suppress the dissolution of an ammonium vanadate (NVO) cathode. The positive role of MSM is further exhibited in the Zn∥NVO and Zn∥PANI full cells, exhibiting outstanding charge/discharge performance and capacity retention. This work provides a type of innoxious additive for an aqueous electrolyte for aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries.