Electrospining Machine:Prof. Le Yu, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, AFM: Electrospun Nanofbers in layered Zn/N doped carbon for dendrite-free zinc metal anode

Background

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-metal batteries are considered promising next-generation energy storage devices due to their inherent safety and low cost. However, the short lifetime due to uncontrollable dendrite growth and unavoidable parasitic reactions of zinc metal has hindered their large-scale application.

Recently, Professor Yu Le et al. from Beijing University of Chemical Technology designed hierarchical large-through-hole lotus root-like multi-channel Zn/N-doped carbon nanofibers (LRZCF@ZCC) modified by Zn/N-doped carbon nanocages for stable zinc-metal anode carriers. The related research results were published in the journal “Advanced Functional Materials” under the title of “Formation of Hierarchical Zn/N-doped Carbon HollowNanofibers towards Dendrite-Free Zn Metal Anodes”. Advanced Functional Materials.

The main points of this paper

1.The design of a hierarchical large-through-hole lotus-root-like multi-channel nitrogen-doped carbon hollow nanofibers modified with zinc/nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages on the surface for stabilizing zinc-metal negative electrodes is presented.

2.The hierarchical porous structure can reduce the local current density, homogenize the zinc ion flux, achieve high loaded zinc deposition, and enhance the conformational stability.

3.The Electrospun Nanofbers do not require binder and have low polarization for zinc deposition.

4.The prepared LRZCF@ZCC-Zn exhibits highly reversible zinc deposition/exfoliation and has a long lifetime in symmetric and full cells

LRZCF@ZCC has several advantages as a self-supporting zinc metal anode material:

1.Reduced local current density, uniform zinc ion flux, high loaded zinc deposition and enhanced structural stability were achieved.

2. LRZCF@ZCC also exhibits low polarization for controllable zinc deposition with small voltage hysteresis.

3. The prepared LRZCF@ZCC-Zn exhibits highly reversible zinc plating/stripping and has a long lifetime in symmetric and full cells.

4. In addition, the LRZCF@ZCC-Zn electrodes exhibited the best multiplicative performance at different current densities with minimal voltage hysteresis.

5. The LRZCF@ZCC-Zn electrode can be stably cycled for 1150 h and 380 h at 20% and 40% DOD.

6. In addition, the aqueous zinc-metal battery assembled by LRZCF@ZCC-Zn negative electrode and NVO positive electrode can be stably cycled for more than 5000 times, showing good reversibility and cycle stability.

Different particles are deposited on top of each other

Originallink: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202311038