Halide-mediated Ag-Zn batteries in alkaline electrolytes

Abstract

The incorporation of bromide ions (Br–) as electrolyte additives fundamentally alters the reaction mechanism of alkaline Ag-Zn batteries, effectively suppressing the shuttle effect and mitigating cathode dissolution. Furthermore, a self-supporting polymer-based silver cathode has been engineered to accommodate volume changes during cycling, thereby minimizing capacity degradation. As a result, the halide-mediated Ag-Zn battery demonstrates exceptional cycling stability over 330 cycles, delivering a high Coulombic efficiency exceeding 99.3% with excellent capacity retention. Notably, the system achieves a high areal capacity of 2.3 mAh cm–², highlighting its potential for practical applications in high-performance rechargeable batteries.