Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc/Copper Oxide Batteries
Resurrecting a battery chemistry thought to be only primary, we demonstrate the first example of a rechargeable alkaline zinc/copper oxide battery. With the incorporation of a Bi2O3 additive to stabilize the copper oxide-based conversion cathode, Zn/(CuO–Bi2O3) cells are capable of cycling over 100 times at >124 W h/L, with capacities from 674 mA h/g (cycle 1) to 362 mA h/g (cycle 150). The crucial role of Bi2O3 in facilitating the electrochemical reversibility of Cu2O, Cu(OH)2, and Cuo was supported by scanning and transmission electrochemical microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and rotating ring-disc electrode voltammetry and monitored via operando energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction measurements. Bismuth was identified as serving two roles, decreasing the cell resistance and promoting Cu(I) and Cu(II) reduction. Additionally, to mitigate the capacity losses of long-term cycling CuO cells, we demonstrate two limited depth of discharge (DOD) strategies. First, a 30% DOD (202 mA h/g) retains 99.9% capacity over 250 cycles. Second, the modification of the CuO cathode by the inclusion of additional Cu metal enables performance at very high areal capacities of ~40 mA h/cm2 and unprecedented energy densities of ~260 W h/L, with near 100% Coulombic efficiency. This work revitalizes a historically primary battery chemistry and opens opportunity to future works in developing copper-based conversion cathode chemistries for the realization of low-cost, safe, and energy-dense secondary batteries.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Electricity (OE); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003525
- OSTI ID:
- 1834131
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-2021-12936J; 700992
- Journal Information:
- ACS Applied Energy Materials, Vol. 4, Issue 7; ISSN 2574-0962
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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