Long-life aqueous zinc-iodine flow batteries enabled by selectively intercepting hydrated ions.

ABSTRACT: Aqueous Zn-I flow batteries are attractive for grid storage owing to their inherent safety, high energy density, and cost-effectiveness. However, Zn anode deposition/dissolution reactions cause severe water migration owing to ionic imbalance, especially under harsh conditions with high state-of-charge and high areal/volumetric capacities, further exacerbating intrinsic challenges for practical Zn-I systems. Herein, we develop a tailored ionic-molecular sieve membrane to regulate the transport behaviors of water/hydrated ion clusters, enabling the electrolyte balance by precise size sieving effects. Systematic investigations of different subnanometer pore sizes reveal that the optimal range (0.55-0.65 nm) can selectively intercept large hydrated ion clusters and reduce polyiodide shuttling.

SUBMITTER: Wei Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540703 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature