Work

Tip-localized stack pressure field distribution towards inactive Zn loss reduction for reversible zinc metal batteries

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Zero-valent metallic Zn-dominant inactive zinc loss is the dominant factor influencing the reversibility of electrochemical plating/stripping reactions of zinc metal anode in Zn batteries. Current researches mainly focus on electrochemical reaction tuning strategies to suppress Zn dendrite growth and electrolyte decomposition. However, the correlation between inactive zinc loss and physical tuning method, especially the effect of the straightforward and efficient mechanical stack pressure that does not require chemical modifications to electrode or electrolyte, has rarely been studied. In this study, we investigate the quantitative relationship between stack pressure and the inactive Zn formation, and discover that a tip-centralized pressure field is applied on the Zn deposition particle during stacking, modifying the vertical dendritic Zn deposition to a dense and uniform structure. At the same time, homogeneous Zn stripping and reduced inactive Zn formation are achieved owing to stack pressure. Under an optimal stack pressure of 867 kPa, we achieve significant 86.93% reduction in the inactive metallic zinc loss amount, along with 500% prolonged cycle life in half cell. These newly discovered theories on the mechanism and structure-performance relationship of stack pressure tailored inactive zinc formation provide important theoretical insights for constructing efficient zinc metal batteries.

Source: Nano Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2025.111032