A high-voltage Zn-air battery based on an asymmetric electrolyte configuration

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Hua Zhang - , Jiangxi Normal University, University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Minshen Zhu - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Hongmei Tang - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Qiongqiong Lu - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ting Yang - , University of Göttingen (Author)
  • Xiaoyu Wang - , Faculty of Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Bin Chen - , Shenzhen University (Author)
  • Zhe Qu - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Xia Wang - , Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (Author)
  • Minghao Yu - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed) (Author)
  • Daniil Karnaushenko - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Dmitriy D. Karnaushenko - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Yang Huang - , Shenzhen University (Author)
  • Oliver G. Schmidt - , Chemnitz University of Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Kai Zhang - , University of Göttingen (Author)

Abstract

Rechargeable Zn-air batteries promise safe energy storage. However, they are limited by the redox potential of O2/O2- chemistry in an alkaline electrolyte, resulting in low operating voltages and therefore insufficient energy density to compete with lithium-ion batteries. The O2/O2- redox potential increases by 0.8 V in an acidic medium, hinting at a way to boost the voltage: an asymmetric electrolyte configuration decoupling acidic and alkaline electrolytes for the air cathode and zinc anode. Such configuration requires a thin and ionically conductive membrane to separate two mutually incompatible electrolytes. Here, we report a Zn ion-exchange membrane with high ionic conductivity of 1.1 mS cm-1, which prevents acid-base neutralization. The highly reversible O2/O2- reaction in the acid is made possible by compositing a cobalt-coordinated porphyrin-based polymeric framework with MXene as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. The asymmetric Zn-air battery operates at voltages up to 1.85 V and cycles for more than 200 h with a material-level energy density of 1350 Wh kg-1, projected to a high device-level energy density of 50 Wh kg-1 (coin cell diameter: 20 mm). The asymmetric configuration withstands pressure up to 4 MPa (∼1200 N), demonstrating excellent structural stability for production and practical applications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number102791
Number of pages9
JournalEnergy storage materials
Volume59
Publication statusPublished - May 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

WOS 000989767700001

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Asymmetric electrolyte configuration, High energy density, High voltage, Ion-exchange membrane, Porphyrin-based polymeric framework