Alcohol-based electrolytes for highly reversible Zn metal batteries
An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode including a metal, metal alloy, or an electrode active material that reversibly intercalates and de-intercalates cations; a positive electrode including (i) an electrode active material that reversibly intercalates and de-intercalates cations or anions, or (ii) an inert host that reversibly catalyzes an external reactant; a separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and an electrolyte including one or more alcohol-based solvents, with one or more salts. The solvents may include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, triglycerol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, an organic small molecule or macromolecule that contain at least one hydroxyl (OH) group, or a combination thereof. The electrochemical cell may include a mixture of multiple alcohol-based solvents or a mixture of the one or more alcohol-based solvents with water, mixed at select ratios. The electrochemical cell may include one or more additives having a concentration range between 0.01% to 20% by weight.
1 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
a negative electrode comprising an electrode active material that reversibly plates and strips multivalent cations;
a positive electrode comprising (i) an electrode active material that reversibly intercalates and de-intercalates cations or anions, or (ii) an inert host that reversibly catalyzes an external reactant;
a separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and
non-aqueous electrolyte comprising one or more alcohol-based solvents, with one or more non-alkali metal salts, wherein a total mass of the alcohol-based solvents comprises more than 20% of a total mass of the electrolyte, wherein the one or more alcohol-based solvents (comprising at least one hydroxyl (OH) group) comprise methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, triglycerol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, or a combination thereof, wherein the one or more non-alkali metal salts are dissolved in a concentration range between 0.1M to 4M.
2 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , comprising a mixture of multiple alcohol-based solvents.
3 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , comprising one or more electrolyte additives comprising a concentration range between 0.01% to 20% by weight of the electrolyte.
4 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the one or more salts comprise a zinc salt, wherein the zinc salt comprises any of a zinc cation and an inorganic or organic anion.
5 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the zinc salt comprises zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate, zinc bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide, zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc bromide, zinc fluoride, zinc perchlorate or zinc acetate, or a combination thereof.
6 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the cations comprise any of Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, H+, and Al3+.
7 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anions comprise any of trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTF—), bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonamide (TFSI—), chloride (Cl—), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), bromide (Br—), fluoride (F—), perchlorate (ClO4-), and acetate (C2H3O2-).
8 . A zinc metal battery comprising:
a negative electrode comprising a metal or metal alloy that reversibly plates and strips cations, wherein the cations comprise any of Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+;
a positive electrode comprising an electrode active material that reversibly intercalates or de-intercalates cations or anions, wherein the cations comprise any of Zn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, and H+, and wherein the anions comprise any of trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTF—), bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonamide (TFSI—), chloride (Cl—), sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), bromide (Br—), fluoride (F—), perchlorate (ClO4-), and acetate (C2H3O2-);
a separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and
a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising one or more alcohol-based solvents, with one or more zinc salts over a concentration range between 0.1M to 4M, wherein a total mass of the alcohol-based solvents comprises more than 20% of a total mass of the electrolyte.
9 . The zinc metal battery of claim 8 , wherein the one or more alcohol-based solvents comprise methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, triglycerol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, or a combination thereof.
10 . The zinc metal battery of claim 8 , wherein the one or more zinc salts comprises any of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate, zinc bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide, zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc bromide, zinc fluoride, zinc perchlorate, and zinc acetate.
11 . The zinc metal battery of claim 8 , comprising one or more electrolyte additives comprising a concentration range between 0.01% to 20% by weight of the electrolyte.