Chaotropic anion based water-in-salt electrolyte realizes a high voltage Zn-graphite dual-ion battery

Aqueous Zn-based batteries are promising candidates for grid energy storage due to their low cost, intrinsic safety, and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, they suffer from limited energy density due to the utilization of low-voltage cathodes and electrolytes. Graphite could be a viable high-voltage cathode material owing to its high redox potential (2.1-3.1 V vs. Zn/Zn2+). However, finding a suitable aqueous electrolyte with high anodic stability remains a fundamental challenge. This work realizes a high-voltage and low-cost aqueous Zn-graphite dual-ion battery based on a Zn(ClO4)(2) water-in-salt electrolyte with a wide electrochemical window of 2.80 V. The implementation of the supersaturated Zn(ClO4)(2) water-in-salt electrolyte containing strong chaotropic ClO4- anions expands the oxidative stability of the aqueous electrolyte beyond 1.65 V vs. Ag/AgCl or 2.60 V vs. Zn/Zn2+, and facilitates reversible plating/stripping of Zn2+ with a low overpotential of vs. Zn/Zn2+. Consequently, the Zn-graphite dual-ion battery delivers a maximum discharge capacity of 45 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) with a mean discharge voltage of similar to 1.95 V and cycle life of over 500 cycles.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a high-voltage and low-cost aqueous Zn-graphite dual-ion battery using a Zn(ClO4)(2) water-in-salt electrolyte. The electrolyte has a wide electrochemical window and allows for reversible Zn2+plating/stripping, leading to high discharge capacity and cycle life of the battery.