Aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) are
considered promising candidates
for large-scale energy storage systems because of their low cost and
high safety. However, currently developed AZB cathodes always suffer
from the intense charge repulsion of multivalent-ion and complex multiphase
electrochemistry, resulting in an insufficient cycling life and impracticable
high-sloping discharge profile. Herein, we found that the synthesized
ultrathin Bi2O2Se nanosheets can effectively
activate stable protons storage in AZBs rather than large zinc ions.
This proton-dominated cathode provides an ultraflat discharge plateau
(72% capacity proportion) and exhibits long-term cyclability as 90.64%
capacity retention after 2300 cycles at 1 A g–1.
Further in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction, ex situ X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy, and density
functional theory confirm the energy storage mechanism regarding the
highly reversible proton insertion/extraction process. Benefiting
from the proton-dominated fast dynamics, reliable energy supply (>81.5%
discharge plateau capacity proportion) is demonstrated at a high rate
of up to 10 A g–1 and in the frozen electrolyte
below −15 °C. This work provides a potential design of
high-performance electrode materials for AZBs.
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