Work

Dual functionality of an organic co-solvent for enhancing stability and efficiency in static zinc bromine batteries

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The flammability of conventional lithium-ion batteries poses significant safety concerns, driving interest in safer alternatives. Static zinc bromine batteries (ZBBs) offer a promising solution due to their non-flammable aqueous electrolyte and low cost. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by self-discharge reactions caused by polybromide (pBr−) crossover, along with hydrogen evolution and uncontrolled zinc metal deposition. In this study, we address these issues by introducing N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a dual-functional co-solvent. DMA acts as an efficient pBr−-capturing agent to form a condensed DMA-pBr complex, effectively suppressing pBr− crossover by decreasing its mobility. Beyond pBr− crossover management, DMA partially replaces H2O molecules in the Zn2+ solvation shell and adsorbs at the negative electrode, mitigating corrosion and promoting uniform, planar zinc metal deposition. This dual functionality enables static ZBBs with exceptional cycle life and enhanced Coulombic efficiency, retaining capacity for 350 cycles at 20 mA cm−2 and 20 mAh cm−2 with negligible degradation. These findings highlight the untapped potential of dual-functionality of co-solvents to simultaneously address crossover and reversibility challenges in aqueous ZBBs.

Source: Journal of Power Sources

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2026.241603

Authors: Suhyeong Park, Kyungjae Shin, Changmin Lee, Minseong Kang, Jiyun Heo, Hee-Tak Kim

Institutions: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Gachon University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced battery technologies research

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,230