Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Martin, Alvin Mar V. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Development and design of Zn@ZnO/Cu foam anode for long-life and stable aqueous Zn-Ni batteries |
| Date Issued | 29 May 2025 |
| Abstract | A Zn@ZnO/Cu foam composite anode was developed via ZnO electrodeposition followed by zinc electroplating to regulate nucleation behavior and improve cycling stability in aqueous Ni–Zn batteries. A zincophilic ZnO interlayer was first deposited onto a three-dimensional copper foam using potentiostatic electrodeposition. A full factorial design of experiments was used to study the effects of deposition potential and Zn(NO3)2 concentration. Among the tested conditions, –1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl and 0.3 M Zn(NO3)2 produced vertically aligned ZnO nanorods and achieved a nucleation overpotential of ~75 mV at 10 mA cm–2, over 50% lower than the ~160 mV observed on Zn@Cu foam, the control sample without a ZnO interlayer. This comparison highlights the role of the ZnO layer in facilitating more uniform nucleation. Statistical analysis confirmed that Zn(NO3)2 concentration had the greatest influence, with significant interaction effects. Post-plating characterization of Zn@ZnO/Cu foam composite anode confirmed the structural and chemical stability of the ZnO layer. SEM revealed preserved ZnO nanorod morphology and pore structure; XRD and Raman verified ZnO phase retention; and EDS showed uniform Zn and O distribution with minimal Cu exposure. Electrochemical testing showed improved redox reversibility, lower corrosion current, and enhanced interfacial kinetics compared to the Zn@Cu foam control. Long-term symmetric cell cycling demonstrated superior durability, with Zn@ZnO/Cu foam maintaining cycling profiles for ~400 hours versus ~230 hours for the Zn@Cu foam. These findings demonstrate that ZnO interface engineering on a 3D substrate provides an effective strategy for enhancing anode performance in rechargeable Ni–Zn batteries. |
| Degree Course | Master of Science in Chemical Engineering |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | Ni–Zn batteries, zincophilic interlayer, ZnO electrodeposition, zinc nucleation, cyclability |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
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