title: Dendrite-Free Nanocrystalline Zinc Electrodeposition from an Ionic Liquid Containing Nickel Triflate for Rechargeable Zn-Based Batteries.
abstract: Metallic zinc is a promising anode material for rechargeable Zn-based batteries. However, the dendritic growth of zinc has prevented practical applications. Herein it is demonstrated that dendrite-free zinc deposits with a nanocrystalline structure can be obtained by using nickel triflate as an additive in a zinc triflate containing ionic liquid. The formation of a thin layer of Zn-Ni alloy (η- and γ-phases) on the surface and in the initial stages of deposition along with the formation of an interfacial layer on the electrode strongly affect the nucleation and growth of zinc. A well-defined and uniform nanocrystalline zinc deposit with particle sizes of about 25 nm was obtained in the presence of Ni(II) . Further, it is shown that the nanocrystalline Zn exhibits a high cycling stability even after 50 deposition/stripping cycles. This strategy of introducing an inorganic metal salt in ionic liquid electrolytes can be considered as an efficient way to obtain dendrite-free zinc.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Giridhar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulletikurthi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carstens
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olschewski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, Arnold-Sommerfeld-Strasse 6, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, 38678, Germany. frank.endres@tu-clausthal.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Endres
keywords: dendrite-free deposition; electrochemistry; ionic liquids; nickel; zinc