Work

Zr-doping induced structural and interfacial engineering of NaTi2(PO4)3 enables dendrite-free and high-stability aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising candidates for grid-scale energy storage due to their inherent safety, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness. However, unstable Zn anodes plagued by dendrite growth and side reactions severely hinder their practical deployment. To overcome these issues, we propose a Zr4+ doping strategy to engineer NaTi2(PO4)3 (NTP) as a multifunctional protective layer for Zn anodes. By substituting Ti4+ with larger Zr4+ ions (ionic radius: Zr4+ = 0.72 Å vs. Ti4+ = 0.61 Å), the NTP lattice expands from 4.4 Å to 6.1 Å, facilitating rapid Zn2+ migration and homogenizing interfacial ion flux. Implementing this structural optimization actively curbs dendrite growth and curtails side reactions, as reflected in a marked drop of both nucleation and corrosion overpotentials. Electrochemical assessments reveal that the Zr0.06-NTP//δ-MnO2 full cell achieves exceptional cycling stability, retaining 162.2 mAh g⁻1 after 500 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g⁻1. Through synergistic structural and interfacial engineering via Zr doping, we establish a scalable paradigm for dendrite-free and high-energy-density AZIBs.

Source: Journal of Energy Storage

DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2025.117769