Study of Nanostructure and Hydration Behavior in Zinc Chloride-Based Electrolytes for High-Energy-Density Batteries

The transition towards sustainable energy solutions has intensified the research on alternative battery chemistries. Zinc-metal batteries (ZMB) and Zinc-air batteries (ZAB) emerge as promising candidates due to their high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, their widespread adoption is hindered by the limited reversibility of the Zn anode in aqueous electrolytes, which results in low Coulombic efficiency and dendrite formation. Recent studies have focused on Water-in-Salt Electrolytes (WISE) with highly concentrated ZnCl₂ solutions, improving battery performance by mitigating dendrite growth. Moreover, ZnCl₂ + LiCl Water-in-Bisalt Electrolytes (WIBE) have demonstrated exceptional stability and efficiency. Despite these advances, the nanostructure of these electrolytes remains poorly understood. Building on our previous work using Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) to investigate nanostructural heterogeneities in Li-based WISEs, this proposal aims to characterize the nano-heterogeneities in ZnCl₂-based WISE and WIBE systems. SANS measurements will be conducted across different concentrations and temperatures, applying the Teubner-Strey model to elucidate the structural dynamics and the role of Li⁺ ions in these systems. Insights from this study will provide a deeper understanding of the ion transport mechanisms and structural behavior in Zn-based electrolytes, advancing their application in next-generation batteries.