Subzero Temperature Operation of Aqueous Zn Metal Batteries by Tailoring Electrolyte Solvation Structure

The declining performance of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) at colder temperatures, especially due to aqueous electrolyte solidification and reduced capacity retention at subzero temperatures, poses a considerable challenge. Here, we report a cheap and ecofriendly aqueous electrolyte formulation comprising low-concentration zinc chloride salt and a common antifreeze agent. We show that the glycerin antifreeze co-solvent effectively interacts with free water molecules and weakens the zinc-ion primary solvation structures, thereby considerably mitigating their detrimental effect at low temperatures. Consequently, the optimized electrolyte successfully outputs a depressed liquid–glass transition point down to −99.2 °C and a record-high Zn plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of ∼99.94% at −40 °C, as well as ∼70% of its room-temperature capacity at −40 °C, opening up a new opportunity for practical AZMBs.

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Publication Details

Journal
ACS Energy Letters
Published
2025-05-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.5c00548
Citations
7
Primary Topic
Advanced battery technologies research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.11

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article

Subzero Temperature Operation of Aqueous Zn Metal Batteries by Tailoring Electrolyte Solvation Structure

Lumin Zheng, Orapa Tamwattana, Songyan Bai, Jaekyun Yoo et al.
7 citations
ACS Energy Letters
Advanced battery technologies research
5.11
article

Subzero Temperature Operation of Aqueous Zn Metal Batteries by Tailoring Electrolyte Solvation Structure

Lumin Zheng, Orapa Tamwattana, Songyan Bai, Jaekyun Yoo, Joohyeon Noh, Kisuk Kang, Qiao Ni, Chuan Kun Wu, Myeong Hwan Lee
article en
7 citations

Abstract

The declining performance of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) at colder temperatures, especially due to aqueous electrolyte solidification and reduced capacity retention at subzero temperatures, poses a considerable challenge. Here, we report a cheap and ecofriendly aqueous electrolyte formulation comprising low-concentration zinc chloride salt and a common antifreeze agent. We show that the glycerin antifreeze co-solvent effectively interacts with free water molecules and weakens the zinc-ion primary solvation structures, thereby considerably mitigating their detrimental effect at low temperatures. Consequently, the optimized electrolyte successfully outputs a depressed liquid–glass transition point down to −99.2 °C and a record-high Zn plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency of ∼99.94% at −40 °C, as well as ∼70% of its room-temperature capacity at −40 °C, opening up a new opportunity for practical AZMBs.

ACS Energy LettersVol. 10(6)
Beijing Institute of Technology (CN), Seoul National University (KR), Khon Kaen University (TH), Beijing Normal University (CN), Battery Park (US), Institute for Basic Science (KR), University of Arts (AL), Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KR), Fuzhou University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Research Foundation of Korea, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 5%
Advanced battery technologies research
5.11
DOISourceOpenAlex
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