Dual-structure-breaking electrolyte enables practical cadmium-metal battery

Abstract High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems but face critical challenges of dendrite and corrosion in metal negative electrodes. To address these issues, we report an aqueous cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics stru...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yang-Feng Cui, Hao-Bin Song, Jing-Jing Yao, Qi Hao, Xue-Liang Li, Yi-Fan Li, Bin-Bin Guo, Yun-Hai Zhu, Hui Ying Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60740-2
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Summary:Abstract High-energy aqueous metal batteries are promising candidates for the next-generation energy storage systems but face critical challenges of dendrite and corrosion in metal negative electrodes. To address these issues, we report an aqueous cadmium-metal battery employing a fast-kinetics structure-breaking electrolyte composed of CdCl2 and NH4Cl. The addition of NH4Cl induces the formation of dual structure breakers, NH4 + and tetrachlorocomplex ([CdCl4]2–), which facilitate fast charge transfer kinetics in aqueous cadmium-metal batteries and endow dendrite-free/corrosion-resistant capabilities to Cd negative electrodes. This tailored electrolyte realizes a convincing Coulombic efficiency (99.93%) for Cd plating/stripping behavior at a high Cd utilization of 55%, making it suitable for practical applications. Moreover, the fast-kinetics aqueous cadmium-metal batteries exhibit remarkable compatibility with diverse types of positive electrodes, including conversion-, coordination-, intercalation- and capacitance-type, offering enhanced rate performance and durable rechargeable stability. These results establish a robust and scalable aqueous battery design for sustainable energy storage systems.
ISSN:2041-1723