Expanding the Temperature Range for Stable Aqueous Batteries: Strategies, Mechanisms and Perspectives

Abstract

Aqueous batteries (ABs) based on water-containing electrolytes are intrinsically safe and serve as promising candidates for the grid-scale energy storage and power supplies of wearable electronics. The severe temperature fluctuations due to fickle weather conditions across the world worsen the parasitic reactions during the electrochemical reactions, which limits the practical application scenarios of the aqueous batteries. Focusing on the electrolyte and electrode optimizations, substantial progress has been achieved to enhance the temperature adaptability of the aqueous batteries with various charge carriers by considering the kinetical and thermodynamical processes during the electrochemical reactions. Here in this review, we present a comprehensive discussion on the recent temperature-dependent electrochemical performance of aqueous batteries by providing experimental and theoretical mechanisms. The necessities to develop the aqueous batterie with superior temperature adaptability are firstly emphasized. The experimental approaches and corresponding physicochemical principles are summarized and classified. Then, recent progress to widen the temperature range for the stable operation of the aqueous batteries via electrolyte and electrode engineering is discussed in detail. Last but not least, we provide some perspectives on this important and prospering field from our point of view.