biostudies-literatureLei JNational Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)10144https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12630962biostudies-literatureUnknown16(1)Aqueous zinc sulfur batteries promise low-cost and safe grid-scale energy storage, but face challenges due to sluggish interfacial Zn²⁺ transfer and H₂O-induced ZnS disproportionation reactions at the interface of sulfur positive electrode. Here, we develop a hybrid electrolyte by introducing ZnI₂ and organic N,N-dimethylformamide cosolvent, in which iodide species contribute to catalytic oxidation of ZnS, while N,N-dimethylformamide cosolvent can effectively facilitate sulfur reduction reaction. By combining operando Raman spectroscopy with non-destructive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and theoretical calculations/simulations, it demonstrates that N,N-dimethylformamide molecules preferentially adsorb on sulfur electrode surface and strongly interaNature communicationsReconstructing interfacial electric double layer for efficient sulfur conversion reaction in aqueous zinc sulfur batteries.PMC1263096222409029Gao RLin PLei JLiu MZhang JZuo YLu YLin JYan YYan HYan WfalseReconstructing interfacial electric double layer for efficient sulfur conversion reaction in aqueous zinc sulfur batteries.Aqueous zinc sulfur batteries promise low-cost and safe grid-scale energy storage, but face challenges due to sluggish interfacial Zn²⁺ transfer and H₂O-induced ZnS disproportionation reactions at the interface of sulfur positive electrode. Here, we develop a hybrid electrolyte by introducing ZnI₂ and organic N,N-dimethylformamide cosolvent, in which iodide species contribute to catalytic oxidation of ZnS, while N,N-dimethylformamide cosolvent can effectively facilitate sulfur reduction reaction. By combining operando Raman spectroscopy with non-destructive electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and theoretical calculations/simulations, it demonstrates that N,N-dimethylformamide molecules preferentially adsorb on sulfur electrode surface and strongly intera2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Nov2026-06-06T06:33:22.368Z2026-06-06T03:07:00.213ZS-EPMC126309624125784210.1038/s41467-025-64974-y