Artificially engineered, bicontinuous anion-conducting/-repelling polymeric phases as a selective ion transport channel for rechargeable zinc–air battery separator membranes

Abstract

Artificially engineered, bicontinuous anion-conducting/-repelling polymeric phases were demonstrated as a selective ion transport channel to bring separator membrane-driven performance benefits for rechargeable Zn–air batteries.

Systematic cycle life assessment of a secondary zinc–air battery as a function of the alkaline electrolyte composition

“…Oxygenated solid zinc species as Zn(OH) 2 or ZnO can be generated upon BAE surface and/or electrode porous structure where the oxygen and/or the concentration gradients of water could promote the dissolution-precipitation processes of zinc species due to changes in their solubility at the near electrode surface (ref. [37] and refs. therein).…”

“…This result indicates that the ORR is more affected by the additives than OER. This fact could be related to (1) an increment of the electrode resistance (not determined, although readers are referred to [17,[36][37][38] for a more dedicate study on the effect of additives on Zn-MnO 2 batteries), (2) slower ORR kinetics associated to lower O 2 diffusion/solubility in higher viscose electrolytes (Fig. S3), (3) surface poisoning which limits the electrode active catalytic sides, and/or (4) the precipitation of species in the BAE porous structure blocking the oxygen crossing.…”

“…The results of this section suggest that zincate anions are the main responsible of the higher cell overvoltage. In that sense, from authors' point of view, cell engineering strategies should be also implemented such as the development of selective membranes able to suppress or to reduce the crossover of zincate ions from the anode to cathode but allowing hydroxide ions pass through [37,38].…”

Solid‐State Rechargeable Zinc–Air Battery with Long Shelf Life Based on Nanoengineered Polymer Electrolyte

“…QA functionalization leads to the formation of interconnected nanochannelsb yc reating hydrophilic/-phobics eparations at the nanoscale. [11] The above issues lead to the poor shelf life of ZABs, but have rarely been addressed before. vantageso fg ood water absorption capabilities ande asy preparation, they suffer from poor chemical and mechanical stabilities, and fast dehydration in ad ry environment.…”

“…Recently,K im et al developed an anion-conducting PVA/PAA nanofiber membrane incorporated with an anionrepelling Nafion phase, which showed well suppressed [Zn(OH) 4 ] 2À crossover,b ut at the cost of process simplicity and part of the OH À conductivity. [11] The above issues lead to the poor shelf life of ZABs, but have rarely been addressed before. [12] Bridging the gap between the laboratory and commercialization for SZABs requires simultaneously addressing the above issues in as olid-state electrolyte membrane.…”