A ternary anhydrous eutectic electrolyte for stable zinc-ion batteries
Abstract Aqueous zinc-ion batteries show promising prospects for large-scale energy storage due to their low cost and high safety. Nevertheless, their practical application is constrained by issues such as water-induced side reactions and the growth of zinc dendrites. In this study, we design a water-free deep eutectic electrolyte (FAU) which consists of zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate, acetamide, and urea. By eliminating the aqueous environment to suppress parasitic reactions and regulating the Zn2+ solvation structure, the reversibility and stability of the zinc anode are significantly enhanced. Moreover, this electrolyte promotes uniform and dense zinc deposition while forming a unique and stable organic-inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interphase layer on the zinc anode surface, thereby effectively inhibiting dendrite growth and zinc corrosion. The Zn||Zn symmetric cell employing the FAU-4 electrolyte demonstrates stable cycling for over 5100 h and exhibits excellent a...