Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

Wittman, Reed M.; Sacci, Robert L.; Zawodzinski, Thomas A.

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227034

Title: Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

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Abstract

For this study, we utilized electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance to understand electrochemical passivation of the zinc electrode in alkaline media and subsequent oxide growth and stripping. The formation of native zinc oxide on a near pristine Zn surface upon contact with 1 M KOH electrolyte was observed. The surface was seen to roughen with time. During Zn dissolution, the measured mass-charge ratio corresponded to the removal of ZnO and not merely Zn. The mechanism of passivation was determined to be caused by electrochemical etching to form pores. The etching leads to a build-up of solid ZnO and Zn(OH)₂ due to electrochemical reactions on the surfaces of the pores. These reactions functionally close the pores off from the bulk. The cycle of Zn deposition and dissolution develops a porous network, which may be the origin of mossy Zn deposits that plague reversible Zn metal batteries.

Authors:

Wittman, Reed M. ^[1];

^[2]; Zawodzinski, Thomas A. ^[3]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Dept.

Publication Date:: Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE

OSTI Identifier:: 1569386

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1782894

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Journal of Power Sources

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 438; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7753

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; quartz crystal microbalance; zinc electrodeposition; zinc passivation; metal anodes

Citation Formats


                    Wittman, Reed M., Sacci, Robert L., and Zawodzinski, Thomas A. Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227034.

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                    Wittman, Reed M., Sacci, Robert L., & Zawodzinski, Thomas A. Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227034

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                    Wittman, Reed M., Sacci, Robert L., and Zawodzinski, Thomas A. Thu .  
"Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227034.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1569386.

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@article{osti_1569386,

  title        = {Elucidating mechanisms of oxide growth and surface passivation on zinc thin film electrodes in alkaline solutions using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance},

  author       = {Wittman, Reed M. and Sacci, Robert L. and Zawodzinski, Thomas A.},

  abstractNote = {For this study, we utilized electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance to understand electrochemical passivation of the zinc electrode in alkaline media and subsequent oxide growth and stripping. The formation of native zinc oxide on a near pristine Zn surface upon contact with 1 M KOH electrolyte was observed. The surface was seen to roughen with time. During Zn dissolution, the measured mass-charge ratio corresponded to the removal of ZnO and not merely Zn. The mechanism of passivation was determined to be caused by electrochemical etching to form pores. The etching leads to a build-up of solid ZnO and Zn(OH)2 due to electrochemical reactions on the surfaces of the pores. These reactions functionally close the pores off from the bulk. The cycle of Zn deposition and dissolution develops a porous network, which may be the origin of mossy Zn deposits that plague reversible Zn metal batteries.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227034},

  journal      = {Journal of Power Sources},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 438,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2019},

  month        = {Thu Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2019}

}

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