Electrochemical Investigation of Phenethylammonium Bismuth Iodide as Anode in Aqueous Zn2+ Electrolytes

Abstract

Despite the high potential impact of aqueous battery systems, fundamental characteristics such as cost, safety, and stability make them less feasible for large-scale energy storage systems. One of the main barriers encountered in the commercialization of aqueous batteries is the development of large-scale electrodes with high reversibility, high rate capability, and extended cycle stability at low operational and maintenance costs. To overcome some of these issues, the current research work is focused on a new class of material based on phenethylammonium bismuth iodide on fluorine doped SnO₂-precoated glass substrate via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition, a technology that is industrially competitive. The anode materials were electrochemically investigated in Zn²⁺ aqueous electrolytes as a proof of concept, which presented a specific capacity of 220 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.4 A g⁻¹ with excellent stability after 50 scans and capacity retention of almost 100%.