Thixotropic gel electrolyte containing poly(ethylene glycol) with high zinc ion concentration for the secondary aqueous Zn/LiMn2O4 battery

Abstract

We have designed an aqueous gel electrolyte containing fumed silica as the thixotropic gelling agent and poly(ethylene glycol) (MW = 300 gmol -1 ) as the nonthixotropic gelling agent. Poly(ethylene glycol) is also the dendrite suppressor and the corrosion inhibitor. Both PEG300 and fumed silica can inhibit dendrite formation, shown by chronoamperometry results and ex-situ scanning electron microscopy images. Furthermore, the corrosion current density on the Zn anode in the 4wt.%FS-1wt.%PEG300 gel electrolyte is 27% less than that of the Zn in the reference aqueous

Recent Progress in the Electrolytes of Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

“…Additionally, flexible ZIBs could be bent over 100 times without significant capacity degradation (a retention rate of 96 %). Furthermore, combining with functional additives, the gel electrolytes can be further modified, such as inhibiting the formation of dendrites …”

A Review of the Use of GPEs in Zinc-Based Batteries. A Step Closer to Wearable Electronic Gadgets and Smart Textiles

“…Depending on the molecular weight, PEO is the polymer with a molecular weight above 20,000 gmol −1 , and PEG refers to the polymer with a molecular weight below 20,000 gmol −1 . PEG (polyethylene glycol), have been used as gelling agent in zinc batteries as dendritic suppressor, cycling stability enhancer and corrosion inhibiter [291][292][293]. However it has been also used as main component in gel polymer electrolytes [291].…”

“…PEG (polyethylene glycol), have been used as gelling agent in zinc batteries as dendritic suppressor, cycling stability enhancer and corrosion inhibiter [291][292][293]. However it has been also used as main component in gel polymer electrolytes [291]. Thus, Mitha et al proposed a gel electrolyte consisting of an aqueous electrolyte containing 2 M ZnSO 4 and 1 M Li 2 SO 4 , a fumed silica gelling agent, and short-chain poly(ethyleneglycol) with MW of 300 g•mol −1 (PEG300) as the non-thixotropic gelling agent, for secondary Zn//GPE//LiMn 2 O 4 batteries.…”

Strategies to Enhance Corrosion Resistance of Zn Electrodes for Next Generation Batteries

“…In addition, inhibitors that can be compatible to new electrolytes have also been studied. Chen and coworkers developed a mildly acidic electrolyte containing 5% fumed silica (FS) for Zn-LiMn 2 O 4 battery (Hoang et al, 2017;Xiong et al, 2018;Mitha et al, 2019). This electrolyte reduced the dendrite growth of Zn electrode but would increase the corrosion rate.…”