Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs), known for their high safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness, are considered a promising technology for grid-scale energy storage. However, their practical application has been hindered by hydrogen evolution corrosion at the zinc anode and dissolution of cathode materials, which lead to battery swelling and performance decay. Particularly under extremely high-temperature conditions, where traditional aqueous electrolytes suffer from uncontrollable side reactions above 60 ℃, limiting battery reliability.
In a recent study published in Nature Communications, a research team led by Prof. CHEN Zhongwei and Prof. WANG Dongdong from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed an innovative electrolyte strategy and developed a multiphase aqueous "soggy sand" electrolyte (MASSE), which enhances interfacial stability and electrochemical reversibility of AZMBs at elevated temperatures, enabling stable operation of aqueous batteries in harsh thermal environments.
Researchers constructed MASSE by using dual immobilization of diethylene glycol and aluminum oxide nanoparticles, effectively restricting the activity of free water. The interactions among these multiphase components create a water-deficient solvent structure, endowing MASSE with exceptional thermal stability. Simultaneously, MASSE suppresses water-induced side reactions and promotes uniform zinc ion deposition/stripping even at elevated temperatures.
Using MASSE, researchers built a Zn||PANI full cell operating over an ultra-wide temperature range—from room temperature to 140 ℃—with a lifespan of 1,700 cycles at a current density of 8 A g-1. In addition, an aqueous zinc metal pouch cell achieved over 100 stable cycles at 80 ℃, with infrared thermal imaging confirming uniform temperature distribution.
"The MASSE not only advances high-temperature aqueous batteries, but also provides an innovative electrolyte design strategy for next-generation energy storage systems capable of operating under harsh conditions," said Prof. CHEN.