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Elucidating the Discharge Behavior of Aqueous Zinc Sulfur Batteries in the Presence of Molybdenum(IV) Chalcogenide Catalyst: The Criticality of Interfacial Electrochemistry

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
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  1. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)
  2. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  3. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Xavier Univ. of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA (United States)
  4. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
  5. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
  6. Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
The aqueous zinc-sulfur battery holds promise for significant capacity and energy density with low cost and safe operation based on environmentally benign materials. However, it suffers from the sluggish kinetics of the conversion reaction. Here, we highlight the efficacy of molybdenum(IV) sulfide (MoS2) to reduce the overpotential of S-ZnS conversion in aqueous electrolytes and study the discharge products formed at the solid-solid and solid-liquid interfaces using experimental and theoretical approaches. Specifically, the MoS2-catalyzed electrochemical conversion reaction is characterized via ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron-based Mo K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and in situ synchrotron-based X-ray computed tomography (XCT). Additionally, operando synchrotron-based S K-edge XAS and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) maps are collected to determine the spatial evolution of sulfur-based species at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Further, coupling the operando S K-edge XAS data with the simulated spectra and fitting the data suggested a possible ZnS2 intermediate phase.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
2519654
Report Number(s):
BNL-226472-2025-JAAM
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 49 Vol. 16; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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