Modulating the Hydrogen Bond for a Stable Zinc Anode with a Wide Temperature Range via the Sucrose and Polyacrylamide Synergistic Effect.

Abstract

Zinc-ion batteries become a major research focus in energy storage, valued for their low cost and high safety. However, their widespread application is hindered by poor zinc anode stability caused by dendrites, side reactions, and poor performance across a wide temperature range at a strong hydrogen bond network aqueous electrolyte. In this study, we propose a strategy for the synergistic combination of a polyacrylamide hydrogel with sucrose. The experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that through the synergistic effect of the polyacrylamide hydrogel and sucrose, they regulate the solvation structure of Zn²⁺ and the hydrogen bond network and inhibit the interfacial side reactions caused by active water. Zinc anode corrosion and dendrite growth issues were also effectively mitigated by this synergistic effect. Consequently, the Zn//Zn-symmetric battery achieved stable cycling performance exceeding 6240 h at room temperature at 0.5 mA cm^-2 and 0.5 mAh cm^-2. The Zn//VO₂ full battery also has good stability, maintaining stable cycle performance even at low temperatures (10,000 cycles at 1 A g^-1 at 0 °C). Even at -10 °C, it has a stable cycle (Zn//Zn-symmetric battery cycle more than 3970 h). This work provides an alternative strategy for developing low-cost, wide temperature range electrolytes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.