ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Solvation substitution of natural hydrophilic additive for highly stable zinc anode in aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Yutong Wu, Yi-Wei Fan, Yuhao Wen, Lina Zhao, Zhiwei Yu, and Ge Xu

School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China

E-mail: zhaolina@sut.edu.cn

Received: 17 February 2025  Accepted: 20 May 2025

Abstract:

In this work, the bio-surfactant L-rhamnose (Rha) was added into the zinc sulfate electrolytes in aqueous zinc batteries (aZIBs) to enhance the stability of zinc anode undergoing long cycle plating/peeling process. The introduction of hydrophilic Rha can disrupt the hydrogen bonding network and restrict the activity of water in the electrolytes, leading to a decrease in hydrogen evolution potential from − 0.149 to − 0.183 V. Meanwhile, the solvation of Rha formed by replacing original Zn(H₂O)₆²⁺ structure can be more effectively absorbed onto zinc anode, promoting the uniform deposition of zinc ions. Under the action of Rha, the cycle life of Zn||Zn cells exceeds 1800 h, and that the Zn||Cu cells have a stable cycle of 841 times with average coulombic efficiency of 99.4979% at 1 mA cm⁻² and 1 mAh cm⁻². Additionally, the Zn||MnO₂ full cells maintained 350 cycles and theoretical capacity of 88.4% at 0.5 C.

Keywords: Batteries; Electrochemistry; Electrocatalysis; Inorganic Chemistry; Supercapacitors; Zinc finger nuclease; Aqueous zinc-ion batteries; Electrolyte additive; Zn anode; L-rhamnose; Solvation structure

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04140-2

Chemical Papers 79 (8) 5483–5495 (2025)