Enhanced charge performance in near-neutral zinc-air batteries via organic solvent additives
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Zinc–air batteries with non-alkaline electrolytes are promising energy storage systems, but their performance remains insufficient for practical applications. Here we show that the addition of just 1 vol% of aprotic organic solvents — such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) — to the electrolyte reduces the overall charge overpotential in Zn–air batteries with carbon black cathodes. These additives stabilize hydrogen peroxide in the electrolyte, which oxidation potential is much lower than that of the solid discharge product, without altering the discharge product composition or the H2O2 generation rate during discharge. This effect is achieved due to the adsorption of the solvent on the carbon black surface, which slows down H2O2 disproportionation rate. A similar effect can be obtained by pretreating the carbon black cathode with organic solvents, while the phenomenon is absent in CNT-based cathodes. These results highlight effective approaches for boosting the performance of near-neutral Zn–air batteries by engineering both the electrolyte and electrode interfaces.
Source: Electrochimica Acta
Institution: Bar-Ilan University
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
OpenAlex ID: W4416442629