Multi‐Agent‐Network‐Based Idea Generator for Zinc‐Ion Battery Electrolyte Discovery: A Case Study on Zinc Tetrafluoroborate Hydrate‐Based Deep Eutectic Electrolytes
Aqueous deep eutectic electrolytes (DEEs) offer great potential for low-cost zinc-ion batteries but often have limited performance. Discovering new electrolytes is therefore crucial, yet time-consuming and resource-intensive. In response, this work presents a Large Language Model (LLM)-based multi-agent network that proposes DEE compositions for zinc-ion batteries. By analyzing academic papers from the DEE field, the network identifies innovative, inexpensive, and sustainable Lewis bases to pair with Zn(BF<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·xH<sub>2</sub>O. A Zn(BF<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·xH<sub>2</sub>O-ethylene carbonate (EC) system demonstrates high conductivity (10.6 mS cm<sup>-1</sup>) and a wide electrochemical stability window (2.37 V). The optimized electrolyte enables stable zinc stripping/plating, achieves outstanding rate performance (81 mAh g<sup>-1</sup> at 5 A g<sup>-1</sup>), and supports 4000 cycles in Zn||polyaniline cells at 3 A g<sup>-1</sup>. Spectroscopic analyses and simulations reveal that EC coordinates to Zn<sup>2+</sup> <sub>,</sub> mitigating water-induced corrosion, while a fluorine-rich hybrid organic/inorganic solid electrolyte interphase enhances stability. This work showcases a pioneering LLM-driven approach to electrolyte development, establishing a new paradigm in materials research.
Authors
- Francesco Ciucci (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0614-5537)
- Qing Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3106-9281)
- Matthew J. Robson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3346-937X)
- Shengjun Xu
- Zilong Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3184-4081)
Institutions
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HK)
- University of Bayreuth (DE)
- University of Hong Kong (HK)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Materials
- Published
- 2025-05-22
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202502649
- Citations
- 13
- Primary Topic
- Advanced battery technologies research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.50
Funders
- Morton Cure Paralysis Fund
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology