Battery that uses zinc ions as the charge carriers
A zinc-ion battery or Zn-ion battery (abbreviated as ZIB) uses
zincions (Zn2+) as the
charge carriers.[1] Specifically, ZIBs utilize Zn as the
anode, Zn-intercalating materials as the
cathode, and a Zn-containing
electrolyte. Generally, the term zinc-ion battery is reserved for rechargeable (secondary) batteries, which are sometimes also referred to as rechargeable zinc metal batteries (RZMB).[2] Thus, ZIBs are different than non-rechargeable (primary) batteries which use zinc, such as
alkaline or
zinc–carbon batteries.
History
In 2011, Feiyu Kang's group showcased for the first time the reversible Zn-ion
insertion into the tunnel structure of alpha-type
manganese dioxide (MnO2) host used as the cathode in a ZIB.[3][4]
The
University of Waterloo in Canada owns patent rights to zinc-ion battery technology developed in its laboratories.[5][6] The Canadian company Salient Energy is commercialising the zinc-ion battery technology.[7]
Other forms of rechargeable zinc batteries are also being developed for stationary
energy storage, although these are not explicitly zinc-ion. For example, Eos Energy Storage is developing a zinc-halide battery in which the cathode reaction involves the oxidation and reduction of halides.[8] Eos Energy Storage is producing 1.5GWh of ‘Made in America’ zinc batteries to be used in the Texas and California electric grids.[9][10]
Research
Motivation and issues
Compared to lithium metal, a zinc negative electrode holds a higher theoretical volumetric capacity and natural abundance. Depending on the ZIB positive electrode, such theoretical advantages may also be present when comparing to
lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Moreover, zinc is more compatible with aqueous electrolytes. However, ZIBs generally show lower Coulombic (charge) efficiency than state of the art LIBs, larger overpotentials for plating and striping on the negative electrode, and the possibility of dendritic failure.[2][11]
Chemistry
Both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes are being investigated as candidates for ZIBs. Zinc salts using the
TFSI or
triflate anions have been considered for both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes.
Zinc sulfate and alkaline
KOH-based aqueous electrolytes have also been considered.[2][11]
Until now, several cathode materials have been explored for ZIBs, including gamma-, delta-type MnO2, copper hexacyanoferrate, bismuth oxide, layer sulfides and Prussian blue analogues.[2][12][13][14] For example, in 2017, researchers reported a prototype zinc-ion battery that has high reversibility, rate, and capacity without dendrite formation.[15] The device used a zinc metal anode, a
vanadium oxide cathode (Zn0.25V2O5⋅nH2O) and an
aqueous electrolyte, all non-toxic materials. After 1,000 cycles it retained 80% of its capacity. The cell achieved a capacity up to 300 mAh g−1 and an energy density of ~450 Wh l−1.
^Alfaruqi, Muhammad H.; Mathew, Vinod; Gim, Jihyeon; Kim, Sungjin; Song, Jinju; Baboo, Joseph P.; Choi, Sun H.; Kim, Jaekook (2015-05-26). "Electrochemically Induced Structural Transformation in a γ-MnO2 Cathode of a High Capacity Zinc-Ion Battery System". Chemistry of Materials. 27 (10): 3609–3620.
doi:
10.1021/cm504717p.
ISSN0897-4756.
^Alfaruqi, Muhammad Hilmy; Gim, Jihyeon; Kim, Sungjin; Song, Jinju; Pham, Duong Tung; Jo, Jeonggeun; Xiu, Zhiliang; Mathew, Vinod; Kim, Jaekook (2015). "A layered δ-MnO 2 nanoflake cathode with high zinc-storage capacities for eco-friendly battery applications". Electrochemistry Communications. 60: 121–125.
doi:
10.1016/j.elecom.2015.08.019.
^Kundu, Dipan; Adams, Brian D.; Duffort, Victor; Vajargah, Shahrzad Hosseini; Nazar, Linda F. (October 2016). "A high-capacity and long-life aqueous rechargeable zinc battery using a metal oxide intercalation cathode". Nature Energy. 1 (10): 16119.
Bibcode:
2016NatEn...116119K.
doi:
10.1038/nenergy.2016.119.
OSTI1469690.
S2CID99789580.