Achieving Highly Reversible Zinc Anodes via N, N‐Dimethylacetamide Enabled Zn‐Ion Solvation Regulation
Fangfang Wu, Yuchao Chen, Yulong Chen, Ruilian Yin, Yancong Feng, Dong Zheng, Xilian Xu, Wenhui Shi, Wenxian Liu, Xiehong Cao
Abstract
Abstract Although aqueous zinc–ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising for scalable energy storage application, the actual performance of ZIBs is hampered by the irreversibility. Optimization of electrolyte composition is a relatively practical and facile way to improve coulombic efficiency (CE) and Zn plating/stripping reversibility of ZIBs. N , N ‐Dimethylacetamide (DMA) has a higher Gutmann donor number (DN) than that of H 2 O, abundant polar groups, and economic price. Herein, a mixture electrolyte containing 10 vol% DMA and ZnSO 4 , which has an enhanced Zn reversibility almost fourfold higher than that of pure ZnSO 4 electrolyte, is demonstrated. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation and spectroscopic analysis reveal DMA has the ability to reconstruct the solvation structure of Zn 2+ and capture free water molecules via forming Hbonds. The inhibited dendrite growth on Zn anode is further clarified by an in situ characterization. This work provides a feasible way for the development of long‐lifespan ZIBs.