Electrolyte for High-Energy- and Power-Density Zinc Batteries and Ion Capacitors

Growth of dendrites, limited coulombic efficiency (CE), and the lack of high-voltage electrolytes restrict the commercialization of zinc batteries and capacitors. These issues are resolved by a new electrolyte, based on the zinc(II)-betaine complex [Zn(bet)(2)][NTf2](2). Solutions in acetonitrile (AN) avoid dendrite formation. A Zn||Zn cell operates stably over 10 110 h (5055 cycles) at 0.2 mA cm(-2) or 110 h at 50 mA cm(-2), and has an area capacity of 113 mAh cm(-2) at 80% depth of discharge. A zinc-graphite battery performs at 2.6 V with a midpoint discharge-voltage of 2.4 V. The capacity-retention at 3 A g(-1) (150 C) is 97% after 1000 cycles and 68% after 10 000 cycles. The charge/discharge time is about 24 s at 3.0 A g(-1) with an energy density of 49 Wh kg(-1) at a power density of 6864 W kg(-1) based on the cathode. A zinc||activated-carbon ion-capacitor (coin cell) exhibits an operating-voltage window of 2.5 V, an energy density of 96 Wh kg(-1) with a power density of 610 W kg(-1) at 0.5 A g(-1). At 12 A g(-1), 36 Wh kg(-1), and 13 600 W kg(-1) are achieved with 90% capacity-retention and an average CE of 96% over 10 000 cycles. Quantum-chemical methods and vibrational spectroscopy reveal [Zn(bet)(2)(AN)(2)](2+) as the dominant complex in the electrolyte.