Professor Zeng Lingxing, a member of the Chen Qinghua & Qian Qingrong team at the College of Environmental and Resources, along with Academician Chen Jun’s team from Nankai University, has introduced a multifunctional alum electrolyte additive. This additive synchronizes the in-situ construction of protective layers on both the Zn anode and the VOx cathode, effectively stabilizing the zinc (Zn) metal anode and the vanadium oxide (VOx) cathode simultaneously. By combining experimental and theoretical calculations, a Zn-Al alloy layer forms on the Zn anode, creating a homogeneous electric field to mitigate dendrite formation. The stronger van der Waals forces between high-valence Al3+ ions and water molecules allow Al3+ to compete with Zn2+ for solvation, significantly reducing side reactions. The Al-containing cathode-electrolyte interface helps prevent the irreversible dissolution of the VOx cathode and the accumulation of byproducts. This study adopts a simple electrolyte additive strategy to address instability issues on both electrodes, providing a new approach to developing cost-effective zinc-based batteries. The research was published in Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., a leading journal in the field of carbon neutrality, under the title "Synergistic Regulation of Anode and Cathode Interphases via an Alum Electrolyte Additive for High-performance Aqueous Zinc-Vanadium Batteries."
The primary institution for this research is Fujian Normal University, with He Lingjun, a postgraduate from the class of 2021, and Lin Chuyuan, a doctoral student from the class of 2022, as the first authors. The corresponding authors include Professor Zeng Lingxing, Associate Researcher Yan Zhenhua, and Academician Chen Jun. Professor Chen Qinghua and Researcher Qian Qingrong are also key participants in this project. This research is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the “Eagle Program for Top Young Talent” of Fujian, and the Provincial Key Foundation of Fujian.
Original link: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202415221
（Translated by Xie Ping, Reviewed by Li Enfu）