Harnessing Dual Hydrogen Bonding and <i>Lewis</i> Acid–Base Interactions for Bio‐Inspired Symmetry‐Breaking Electrolytes in Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Wei Zhang, Jie Chen, Chaohong Guan, Tianyun Qiu, Xiaodong Shi, Ruwei Chen, Zhenjing Jiang, Qingjin Fu, Xian Wu, Hang Yang, Mingqiang Liu, Peie Jiang, Yunpeng Zhong, Jianbin Zhou, Guanjie He
Abstract
Abstract Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) offer a safe, cost‐effective alternative for large‐scale energy storage but are hindered by zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and unstable electrode–electrolyte interfaces. These challenges largely stem from strong dipole interactions between symmetric water molecules and Zn 2+ , which destabilize the electric double layer (EDL) and trigger parasitic reactions. Drawing inspiration from biological systems that use asymmetric molecular interactions to regulate aqueous environments, we introduce isobutyramide (IAM) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive. IAM features both carbonyl and amide groups, enabling it to act as a dual‐site hydrogen bond donor and acceptor. This disrupts the hydrogen‐bonding network in water, reduces water activity, and suppresses HER. Additionally, IAM's lone pairs coordinate strongly with Zn 2+ , restructuring the solvation sheath and mitigating uncontrolled Zn 2+ migration that leads to dendrite formation. This dual‐function, symmetry‐breaking strategy stabilizes the EDL, enhances Zn plating/stripping reversibility, and suppresses interfacial degradation. Electrochemical tests confirm IAM's efficacy: Zn||Cu cells exhibit 99.68% Coulombic efficiency over 1,000 cycles, Zn||Zn symmetric cells remain stable for over 4,250 h, and full‐cell Zn||V 2 O 5 and Zn||I 2 systems show significantly enhanced cycling performance. Zn||I 2 pouch cells also demonstrate robust long‐term operation. This bio‐inspired approach offers a scalable path to high‐performance, practical aqueous ZIBs.