Nanoscale surface coating to enable stable and sendrite-free Zn anode for rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries

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Development of inexpensive, safe, and environmentally benign electrical energy storage (EES) technologies is imperative to seamlessly integrate renewable energy into the smart grid in Canada and globally. Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in portable devices and electric vehicles, but suffer from high cost and inherent safety issues (fires and explosion) associated with the use of flammable organic elecrolytes. Recently, aqueous-based zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted great attention as a promising EES technology, due to the high safety, low cost, environmental friendliness, and relatively high energy density. However, current ZIBs have poor performance partially due to Zn dendrite problem on Zn anode. Zn dendrites are needle-like structure formed during battery cycling that can lead to low efficiency and battery capacity, and pierce the separator to cause short circuit. In this project, Dr. Jian Liu's group at University of British Columbia, in collaboration with MGX Minerals Inc., aims to tackle the Zn dendrite problem by using nanoscale and multifunctional surface coating enabled by advanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. The proposed nanoscale coating is expected to regulate Zn nucleation and growth, prevent Zn dendrite growth, and alleviate side reactions between Zn anode and electrolytes, therefore improving the overall performance of Zn-ion batteries. The industrial parter will prototype and scale up the manufacuting of ZIBs with the new Zn anodes developed in this project towards commercialization. Deployment of this new battery technology will not only lead to local economic benifits, but also help increase the wide-range adoption of renewable energy, reduce dependence on carbon-intensive fuels, improve the living environment of Canadians, and contribute to the transition to a greener and cleaner society.