New Additive Boosts Safety and Lifespan of Zinc Batteries

The research team tackled these issues through interface engineering, a strategy that improves battery performance without relying on expensive material redesign.

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have developed a new electrolyte additive that could make rechargeable zinc batteries safer, longer-lasting and more affordable for large-scale energy storage applications.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are attracting growing attention as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries because they are cheaper, safer and more environmentally friendly. Their widespread adoption has been limited by several technical challenges, including corrosion, hydrogen gas generation, zinc dendrite growth and reduced battery life during repeated charging cycles.

The research team tackled these issues through interface engineering, a strategy that improves battery performance without relying on expensive material redesign. This approach offers a practical route to extending battery life while keeping production costs low.

Additive Controls Reactions at the Zinc Surface

The researchers developed an electrolyte additive known as 1,3-bis (1,3-dicarboxypropyl)-1H-imidazole-3-ium chloride, or BDIM. The compound contains oxygen and nitrogen donor sites that strongly interact with zinc metal surfaces. During battery operation, BDIM selectively adsorbs onto the zinc anode and occupies the Inner Helmholtz Plane, a critical region where electrochemical reactions take place. By positioning itself at this interface, the additive pushes water molecules away from the zinc surface.

This process significantly reduces unwanted side reactions that normally lead to hydrogen evolution, corrosion and dendrite formation. Dendrites are needle-like structures that can damage batteries, shorten their lifespan and create safety risks. The result is a more stable zinc surface that improves battery performance and durability over extended periods of use.

Advanced Techniques Reveal New Insights

To better understand how the additive works, the team combined a specially designed ultramicroelectrode (UME) with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). The ultramicroelectrode, measuring less than 50 micrometres, enabled researchers to observe changes in charge transfer and ion movement at very high scan rates. The FSCV technique provided a detailed view of electrochemical processes occurring at the battery interface.

These advanced measurements allowed the scientists to directly investigate zinc deposition mechanisms and gain new insights into how the additive influences battery behaviour.

The study was led by Dr Ramendra Sundar Dey, Scientist E at INST Mohali, and has been published in the journal ACS Electrochemistry. Researchers believe the technology could support the development of next-generation zinc-ion batteries for renewable energy storage, backup power systems and grid-scale energy infrastructure. By increasing battery lifespan and reducing performance degradation, the innovation has the potential to lower maintenance costs and improve the reliability of clean energy systems.