Profile
Keywords: | Zinc ion batteries, electrolyte, zinc air batteries |
FES Funded ProjectsOutputs
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Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Zinc-Air Batteries Operating at Low TemperaturesPoster presentation for FES Fall Symposium 2021T06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2021-09-17 | | Efficient Low Temperature Performance of All Solid-State Zinc-air Batteries with MnCo2O4/Carbon Fiber Bifunctional Electrocatalyst and Poly(acrylic Acid) (PAA) Polymer ElectrolyteSpinel type MnCo2O4 coated on asphaltene based carbon fibers (MnCo2O4/CF) was used as the electrode material/electrocatalyst for air electrodes for zinc‐air batteries (ZABs). The batteries were assembled using an alkaline poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel electrolyte. The low temperature battery performance of the prepared ZAB cells was studied in terms of charge/discharge voltage and efficiency at different current densities, cycle life, power density, and cell voltage at temperatures between −45 °C and 21 °C. At all temperatures, the ZABs successfully completed 200 cycles of charge/discharge (100 h) at 2 mA cm−2 which is double the current density reported in the recent literature. The maximum power densities at 0 and −45 °C were 75 and 12 mW cm−2, respectively. The good performance is attributed to the porous design of the air electrode and the use of an efficient electrocatalyst and an optimized gel polymer electrolyte.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2023-02-02 | | Zinc-Air Batteries with Efficient and Stable MnCo2O4/Carbon Fiber Bifunctional Electrocatalyst and Poly(acrylic Acid) (PAA) Based Gel ElectrolyteEfficient and high-performance zinc–air batteries (ZABs) with gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) were prepared. Cubic spinel-type MnCo2O4-coated carbon fibers (MnCo2O4/CF) were used to prepare air electrodes, and poly(acrylic acid) was used to prepare alkaline GPEs. Materials characterization, including electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirmed the formation of MnCo2O4 on the CFs. The optimum composition of the GPE was determined by rheological measurements and battery testing; using GPE with a crosslinker concentration of 30 mM led to the best performing battery. Full-cell battery tests and cycling tests showed that this ZAB cell had outstanding performance with an initial efficiency of 62.6% at 10 mA cm–2, which degraded by only 6.5% after 200 cycles (100 h). The power output of this cell was 240 mW cm–2, which is superior to the power outputs reported in the recent literature for ZABs.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2022-11-04 | | Low-Temperature Tolerant Poly(Acrylic Acid) (PAA) Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Rechargeable Zinc-Air BatteriesGel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are emerging materials for Zn-air batteries (ZABs), since the GPE can act as a combined electrolyte and separator in the battery. GPE-KOH was fabricated through the polymerization of poly(acrylic) acid in the presence of KOH and ZnO. GPE-KOH-KI was fabricated following a similar procedure, followed by immersion in a solution containing KOH, KI and ZnO. The addition of KI to the electrolyte changed the conventional charging reaction to a reaction with a lower thermodynamic barrier, which improved the battery efficiency with a maximum increase of 36% relative to ZABs without KI. This work focused on extending the working temperature range of the ZAB to low temperatures (as low as -41℃) as well as exploring the reaction mechanism for ZABs using KI as an additive. It is proposed that the discharging reaction at the air electrode is a combination of the oxygen reduction reaction and iodate reduction reaction.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2023-05-11 | | Zinc-Air Battery Advances: Efficiency, Stability, and Low Temperature OperationPoster presentation on progress in Ivey Group on zinc-air batteries.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2023-04-28 | | Modified Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Zinc-Air Batteries Operating at Various TemperaturesPresentation dealing with gel polymers for application as the electrolyte in zinc-air batteries.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2022-06-14 | | Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Zinc-air Batteries Operating at Low TemperaturesGel polymers for use as the electrolyte for zinc-air batteries in applications at low temperatures. T06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2022-05-24 | | ECS Travel Grant for 241st ECS MeetingCompetitive award to help fund travel to ECS conference. T06-P03 University of Alberta | Award | 2022-05-29 | | Low-Temperature Tolerant Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Rechargeable Zn-Air BatteriesMSc thesisT06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2022-12-22 | | O, N-Enriched, Self-Activated, Holey Carbon Sheets for High-Loading Zinc-Ion SupercapacitorsT06-Q03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2023-12-27 | Zhixiao Xu, "Zhe Sun ", "Janay Shan ", "Song Jin ", Cui, J., Zhiping Deng, Min Ho Seo, Wang, X. | Functional Electrolyte Additives for Zinc-Ion BatteriesT06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2024-05-24 | | Zinc-philic Electrolyte Additives for Zinc-Ion BatteriesT06-P03 University of Alberta | Activity | 2024-05-22 | | Sodium Succinate as a Functional Electrolyte Additive for Rechargeable Zinc-ion BatteriesZn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have gained great traction due to their low cost and improved safety when compared with Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, dendrite formation and side reactions involving Zn corrosion and hydrogen evolution at the Zn electrode restrict the practical application of ZIBs. In this study, sodium succinate (SS), a common leveler and brightener in Zn electroplating, is explored as a functional electrolyte additive in ZIBs. Theoretical and experimental results indicate succinate ions can preferentially adsorb on the Zn electrode surface compared with water molecules. The adsorbed succinate ions can beneficially affect Zn2+ diffusion and cover the active sites for side reactions, resulting in more uniform Zn deposition and a protected Zn electrode. With the addition of 0.04 M SS to 2 M ZnSO4, the lifetime of the ZIB is significantly improved. A cycling stability of over 7100 h at 1 mA cm−2 is achieved, along with an ultrahigh average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% in Zn||Cu cells, as well as a stable plating/stripping behavior of over 1800 h at 2 mA cm−2 in Zn||Zn cells. Even at a high current of 10 mA cm−2, both Zn||Zn and Zn||Cu cells employing the newly designed electrolyte demonstrate much improved performance. Full cells with Zn and I2@activated carbon electrodes in the designed electrolyte exhibit both higher capacity and capacity retention (87%) compared with batteries using pure 2 M ZnSO4 electrolyte. The exploration of SS as a functional electrolyte additive for ZIBs connects the use of levelers and brighteners in Zn electroplating with the study of ZIBs.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2024-12-01 | | Revealing Zn Stripping and Plating Behavior in ZnSO4, Zn(ClO4)2, and ZnCl2 as a Function of Current Density and Capacity in Aqueous Zinc Ion BatteriesZn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for stationary energy storage due to
their enhanced safety and cost-effectiveness. However, challenges such as dendrite
and by-product formation severely restrict their practical application. Numerous
strategies have been proposed to address these issues, yet only a few fundamental
studies have systematically investigated Zn plating and stripping behavior on Zn
electrodes or the role of anions in these processes. In this study, correlations between
electrolyte characteristics and Zn stripping/plating behavior are established. The
reversibility of Zn followed the order ZnSO4 > ZnCl2 > Zn(ClO4)2. Several trends were
observed. Zn preferentially deposited on protruding areas in all electrolytes. At a
constant current density, increasing the areal capacity led to the formation of larger Zn
particles. At a fixed areal capacity, increasing the current density resulted in smaller Zn
deposits but a greater number of individual Zn islands. Zn in Zn(ClO4)2 exhibited
preferential stripping from the Zn substrate, whereas in ZnSO4 and ZnCl2, more Zn
was stripped from deposited Zn. These findings provide fundamental insights into Zn
plating and stripping behavior and may inspire new strategies to enhance the
performance and reversibility of ZIBs.T06-P03 University of Alberta | Publication | 2025-04-28 | |
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