2024 | Weihao Song, Jiaxing Liu, Shengpu Rao, Ming Zhao, Yanqun Lv, Shunshun Zhao, Qing Ma, Bing Wu, Chengjin Zheng, Shimou Chen, Zhilin Li, Jin Niu, and Feng Wang
This study investigates the use of sulfur-containing zwitter-molecule (metathionine, Met) as an additive in aqueous zinc (Zn) metal batteries (AZMBs) to improve Zn anode performance. Met reduces the H2O coordination number and facilitates desolvation, enhancing Zn2+ transference kinetics and decreasing active water. On the Zn anode, Met preferentially adsorbs on the Zn (002) plane and forms a zincophilic protective layer through in situ electrochemical oxidation, suppressing H2 evolution and corrosion reactions, and guiding dendrite-free Zn deposition. The Met-containing ZnSO4 electrolytes show superior cycling performance in Zn/Zn cells and full cells (Zn//NH4V4O10) under various conditions, including high current densities, wide temperature ranges, and low N/P ratios. Notably, the full cells using Met-ZSO achieve a high energy density of 105.30 W h kg−1, demonstrating the promising practical application of Met-ZSO in AZMBs. The study provides insights into the modification mechanism of sulfur-containing zwitter-molecules for Zn anode performance and offers a new electrolyte additive for practical AZMBs.This study investigates the use of sulfur-containing zwitter-molecule (metathionine, Met) as an additive in aqueous zinc (Zn) metal batteries (AZMBs) to improve Zn anode performance. Met reduces the H2O coordination number and facilitates desolvation, enhancing Zn2+ transference kinetics and decreasing active water. On the Zn anode, Met preferentially adsorbs on the Zn (002) plane and forms a zincophilic protective layer through in situ electrochemical oxidation, suppressing H2 evolution and corrosion reactions, and guiding dendrite-free Zn deposition. The Met-containing ZnSO4 electrolytes show superior cycling performance in Zn/Zn cells and full cells (Zn//NH4V4O10) under various conditions, including high current densities, wide temperature ranges, and low N/P ratios. Notably, the full cells using Met-ZSO achieve a high energy density of 105.30 W h kg−1, demonstrating the promising practical application of Met-ZSO in AZMBs. The study provides insights into the modification mechanism of sulfur-containing zwitter-molecules for Zn anode performance and offers a new electrolyte additive for practical AZMBs.