(Invited) Investigation of Dynamic Processes within Zinc Aqueous Electrolyte Batteries: In-Situ and Operando Methods

Abstract

Emerging new applications such as large-scale storage coupled with intermittent renewable energy generation such as wind and solar demand expanded battery function. However, in beyond lithium batteries full understanding of many processes, including complex phase transitions of electroactive materials, the kinetics of ion transport, and electrode-electrolyte interfacial reactions, remain elusive. Of particular note are systems that contain aqueous electrolytes where multiple charge carriers need to be considered including the possible participation of proton or hydronium ions.This presentation will explore operando methods and their relevance to zinc anode batteries. Diffraction remains a valuable technique for the characterization of active material evolution as a function of charge and discharge. Further, the use of spectroscopic methods such as x-ray absorption spectroscopy that are not dependent on long range order to obtain useful information are valuable for systems involving poorly crystalline or amorphous materials. Thus, the use of x-ray diffraction, x-ray absorption spectroscopy, and x-ray microfluorescence mapping in relationship to aqueous electrolyte zinc anode systems will be featured.