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Title: Effect of ZnO-Saturated Electrolyte on Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Batteries at Increased Depth-of-Discharge

Abstract

Rechargeable alkaline batteries containing zinc anodes suffer from redistribution of active material due to the high solubility of ZnO in the electrolyte, limiting achievable capacity and lifetime. Here, we investigate pre-saturating the KOH electrolyte with ZnO as a strategy to mitigate this issue, utilizing rechargeable Ni–Zn cells. In contrast to previous reports featuring this approach, we use more practical limited-electrolyte cells and systematically study ZnO saturation at different levels of zinc depth-of-discharge (DODZn), where the pre-dissolved ZnO is included in the total system capacity. Starting with 32 wt. % KOH, cells tested at 14%, 21%, and 35% DODZn with ZnO-saturated electrolyte exhibit 191%, 235%, and 110% longer cycle life respectively over identically tested cells with ZnO-free electrolyte, with similar energy efficiency and no voltage-related energy losses. Furthermore, anodes cycled in ZnO-saturated electrolyte develop more favorable compact zinc deposits with less overall mass loss. The effect of initial KOH concentration was also studied, with ZnO saturation enhancing cycle life for 32 wt % and 45 wt % KOH but not for 25 wt % KOH, likely due to cell failure by passivation rather than shorting. The simplicity of ZnO addition and its beneficial effect at high zinc utilization make it amore » promising means to make secondary alkaline zinc batteries more commercially viable.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo; ORCiD logo;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Electricity (OE)
OSTI Identifier:
1606464
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1639061
Report Number(s):
SAND2020-6342J
Journal ID: ISSN 1945-7111
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0003525; AC04-94AL85000
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Online) Journal Volume: 167 Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1945-7111
Publisher:
IOP Publishing
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE

Citation Formats

Lim, Matthew B., Lambert, Timothy N., and Ruiz, Elijah I. Effect of ZnO-Saturated Electrolyte on Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Batteries at Increased Depth-of-Discharge. United States: N. p., 2020. Web. doi:10.1149/1945-7111/ab7e90.
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Lim, Matthew B., Lambert, Timothy N., & Ruiz, Elijah I. Effect of ZnO-Saturated Electrolyte on Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Batteries at Increased Depth-of-Discharge. United States. https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab7e90
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Lim, Matthew B., Lambert, Timothy N., and Ruiz, Elijah I. Wed . "Effect of ZnO-Saturated Electrolyte on Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Batteries at Increased Depth-of-Discharge". United States. https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab7e90.
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@article{osti_1606464,
title = {Effect of ZnO-Saturated Electrolyte on Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Batteries at Increased Depth-of-Discharge},
author = {Lim, Matthew B. and Lambert, Timothy N. and Ruiz, Elijah I.},
abstractNote = {Rechargeable alkaline batteries containing zinc anodes suffer from redistribution of active material due to the high solubility of ZnO in the electrolyte, limiting achievable capacity and lifetime. Here, we investigate pre-saturating the KOH electrolyte with ZnO as a strategy to mitigate this issue, utilizing rechargeable Ni–Zn cells. In contrast to previous reports featuring this approach, we use more practical limited-electrolyte cells and systematically study ZnO saturation at different levels of zinc depth-of-discharge (DODZn), where the pre-dissolved ZnO is included in the total system capacity. Starting with 32 wt. % KOH, cells tested at 14%, 21%, and 35% DODZn with ZnO-saturated electrolyte exhibit 191%, 235%, and 110% longer cycle life respectively over identically tested cells with ZnO-free electrolyte, with similar energy efficiency and no voltage-related energy losses. Furthermore, anodes cycled in ZnO-saturated electrolyte develop more favorable compact zinc deposits with less overall mass loss. The effect of initial KOH concentration was also studied, with ZnO saturation enhancing cycle life for 32 wt % and 45 wt % KOH but not for 25 wt % KOH, likely due to cell failure by passivation rather than shorting. The simplicity of ZnO addition and its beneficial effect at high zinc utilization make it a promising means to make secondary alkaline zinc batteries more commercially viable.},
doi = {10.1149/1945-7111/ab7e90},
journal = {Journal of the Electrochemical Society (Online)},
number = 6,
volume = 167,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1149/1945-7111/ab7e90
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