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Stepwise Activation-Guided Zn Deposition for Ultra-High Capacity in Flowless Zn-Br Batteries

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Stepwise Activation-Guided Zn Deposition for Ultra-High Capacity in Flowless Zn-Br Batteries Author(s): Han, Jaewoong; Lee, Mingyu; Lee, Hyuntae; Shin, Youyeong; Kim, Suhwan; Shin, Kyungjae; Kim, Chanyeon; Kim, Hee-Tak; Lee, Yong Min; Lee, Hongkyung Abstract: Flowless Zn-bromine batteries (FL-ZBBs) are attracting attention as a route to overcome the inherent system-level limitations of conventional flow batteries. However, the difficulty of achieving high ZnBr2 utilization and ultra-high areal capacity jeopardize practical feasibility: Under practically relevant conditions, Zn-hosting electrodes suffer from top-plating issues and dendrite-triggered "dead" Zn accumulation, which deteriorates reversible Zn plating/stripping. This work presents a stepwise activation (SWA) electrode that guides top-plating-free, bottom-to-top sequential Zn deposition. The SWA architecture is designed by introducing insulating porous membranes physically separating stacked CF layers while electrically linking through controlled partial Zn penetration. Benefiting from SWA-guided Zn deposition, FL-ZBBs can stably retain higher Coulombic and energy efficiencies even at a high current cycling (20 mA cm-2) over 10 000 cycles. For the first time, we demonstrate a stable ultra-high capacity cycling (100 mAh cm-2) of FL-ZBB with SWA electrode by maximizing the ZnBr2 utilization (similar to 33%). This simple, scalable SWA design offers broad applicability, enabling high-capacity operation in flowless batteries and extending to other metal-deposition-limited redox systems.

Hetero-Solvent Microenvironment for Selective CO2 to Ethanol Electrolysis via Interfacial Water Control

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Hetero-Solvent Microenvironment for Selective CO2 to Ethanol Electrolysis via Interfacial Water Control Author(s): Kim, Dohun; Lee, Suyun; Jung, Seeun; Kim, Jaemin; Cho, Junsic; Lee, Dong Ki; Back, Seoin; Choi, Chang Hyuck; Kim, Chanyeon Abstract: Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) offers a route for sustainable chemical production using water as a clean proton source. However, water also promotes the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, limiting CO2RR performance. Here we establish interfacial water as a decisive but overlooked design parameter for selective CO2-to-ethanol electrolysis. A hetero-solvent microenvironment confining diglyme (DiG) near the Cu catalyst substantially suppresses HER under both neutral and alkaline conditions, where protons are supplied via water dissociation. In situ infrared absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculation results reveal that DiG strengthens the hydrogen-bonding network of interfacial water, reducing free-water population prone to dissociation. Concurrently, the modulated water network effectively hinders solvent-mediated hydrogenation that favors ethylene formation, thereby promoting ethanol formation. Because this strategy modulates the microenvironment rather than the catalyst, it readily extends to Cu–Ag bimetallic catalyst. Moreover, confining hetero-solvent within microenvironment rather than in the bulk electrolyte enables high-current operation at low cell voltages, achieving an ethanol partial current density of 184.2mAcm−2 at 3.6V under neutral condition. (Figure presented.) © The Author(s) 2026.

Recovering lost performance

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Title: Recovering lost performance Author(s): Kwon, Woosuck; Kim, Chanyeon Abstract: Catalysts often transform dynamically during reaction, bringing challenges in terms of changing activity, selectivity, and stability. Research now demonstrates an operation strategy based on in situ catalyst formation and dissolution to recover the performance of catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction to methane.

이온 전도성 고분자 이용 전기화학적 이산화탄소 환원 촉매의 미세환경제어

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 15:00:00 GMT

Title: 이온 전도성 고분자 이용 전기화학적 이산화탄소 환원 촉매의 미세환경제어 Author(s): 이수연; 김찬연 Abstract: