Innovating Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries for Low Charging Voltage and High Energy Efficiency

Siyuan Zhao; Tong Liu; Yang Wang; Zengjia Guo; Idris Temitope Bello; Qijiao He; Yayu Zuo; Manhui Wei; Meng Ni

doi:10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c04025

Innovating Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries for Low Charging Voltage and High Energy Efficiency

Siyuan Zhao, Tong Liu, Yang Wang, Zengjia Guo, Idris Temitope Bello, Qijiao He, Yayu Zuo, Manhui Wei, Meng Ni

Research output: Journal article publication › Journal article › Academic research › peer-review

Abstract

The commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is significantly impeded by their high charging voltage and low energy efficiency. In this work, we apply soluble KI to ZABs as a reaction modifier to change the oxidation pathway in the charging process from oxygen evolution reaction to I- oxidation reaction (IOR), which enjoys lower oxidation potential and faster kinetics. In addition, we surprisingly find that commercial cost-effective XC72R carbon delivers satisfactory bifunctional IOR and oxygen reduction reaction activity. Density functional theory calculation is provided to demonstrate the IOR mechanism by XC72R carbon. Finally, the KI-modified ZABs with XC72R exhibit a low charging voltage of 1.79 V, improved energy efficiency of 65.3% (2.0 V and 60% for conventional ZABs with noble-metal catalysts), and long cycle life of over 120 h at 5 mA cm-2. Further characterizations have illuminated the reason behind the extended battery cycle life as well. This work can significantly facilitate the future use of rechargeable ZABs in energy storage.

Original language	English
Journal	Energy and Fuels
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c04025
Publication status	Accepted/In press - Dec 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemical Engineering(all)
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c04025

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@article{7cf946a4b006427b9962ec7967e03143,

title = "Innovating Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries for Low Charging Voltage and High Energy Efficiency",

abstract = "The commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is significantly impeded by their high charging voltage and low energy efficiency. In this work, we apply soluble KI to ZABs as a reaction modifier to change the oxidation pathway in the charging process from oxygen evolution reaction to I- oxidation reaction (IOR), which enjoys lower oxidation potential and faster kinetics. In addition, we surprisingly find that commercial cost-effective XC72R carbon delivers satisfactory bifunctional IOR and oxygen reduction reaction activity. Density functional theory calculation is provided to demonstrate the IOR mechanism by XC72R carbon. Finally, the KI-modified ZABs with XC72R exhibit a low charging voltage of 1.79 V, improved energy efficiency of 65.3% (2.0 V and 60% for conventional ZABs with noble-metal catalysts), and long cycle life of over 120 h at 5 mA cm-2. Further characterizations have illuminated the reason behind the extended battery cycle life as well. This work can significantly facilitate the future use of rechargeable ZABs in energy storage.",

author = "Siyuan Zhao and Tong Liu and Yang Wang and Zengjia Guo and Bello, {Idris Temitope} and Qijiao He and Yayu Zuo and Manhui Wei and Meng Ni",

note = "Funding Information: This work is supported by a grant from Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) (project no. C5031-20G) of Research Grant Council, University Grants Committee, HK SAR, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110464), and National Nature Science Foundation of China (22209138). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Energy and Fuels. All rights reserved.",

year = "2022",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1021/acs.energyfuels.2c04025",

language = "English",

journal = "Energy & Fuels",

issn = "0887-0624",

publisher = "American Chemical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Innovating Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries for Low Charging Voltage and High Energy Efficiency

AU - Zhao, Siyuan

AU - Liu, Tong

AU - Wang, Yang

AU - Guo, Zengjia

AU - Bello, Idris Temitope

AU - He, Qijiao

AU - Zuo, Yayu

AU - Wei, Manhui

AU - Ni, Meng

N1 - Funding Information: This work is supported by a grant from Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) (project no. C5031-20G) of Research Grant Council, University Grants Committee, HK SAR, Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110464), and National Nature Science Foundation of China (22209138). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Energy and Fuels. All rights reserved.

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - The commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is significantly impeded by their high charging voltage and low energy efficiency. In this work, we apply soluble KI to ZABs as a reaction modifier to change the oxidation pathway in the charging process from oxygen evolution reaction to I- oxidation reaction (IOR), which enjoys lower oxidation potential and faster kinetics. In addition, we surprisingly find that commercial cost-effective XC72R carbon delivers satisfactory bifunctional IOR and oxygen reduction reaction activity. Density functional theory calculation is provided to demonstrate the IOR mechanism by XC72R carbon. Finally, the KI-modified ZABs with XC72R exhibit a low charging voltage of 1.79 V, improved energy efficiency of 65.3% (2.0 V and 60% for conventional ZABs with noble-metal catalysts), and long cycle life of over 120 h at 5 mA cm-2. Further characterizations have illuminated the reason behind the extended battery cycle life as well. This work can significantly facilitate the future use of rechargeable ZABs in energy storage.

AB - The commercialization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) is significantly impeded by their high charging voltage and low energy efficiency. In this work, we apply soluble KI to ZABs as a reaction modifier to change the oxidation pathway in the charging process from oxygen evolution reaction to I- oxidation reaction (IOR), which enjoys lower oxidation potential and faster kinetics. In addition, we surprisingly find that commercial cost-effective XC72R carbon delivers satisfactory bifunctional IOR and oxygen reduction reaction activity. Density functional theory calculation is provided to demonstrate the IOR mechanism by XC72R carbon. Finally, the KI-modified ZABs with XC72R exhibit a low charging voltage of 1.79 V, improved energy efficiency of 65.3% (2.0 V and 60% for conventional ZABs with noble-metal catalysts), and long cycle life of over 120 h at 5 mA cm-2. Further characterizations have illuminated the reason behind the extended battery cycle life as well. This work can significantly facilitate the future use of rechargeable ZABs in energy storage.

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SN - 0887-0624

JO - Energy & Fuels

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Innovating Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries for Low Charging Voltage and High Energy Efficiency

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