Influence of tartaric acid on zinc electrodeposition from sulphate bath

Magnetostrictive Performance of Electrodeposited TbxDy(1-x)Fey Thin Film with Microcantilever Structures

The microfabrication with a magnetostrictive Tb_xDy_(1−x)Fe_y thin film for magnetic microactuators is developed, and the magnetic and magnetostrictive actuation performances of the deposited thin film are evaluated. The magnetostrictive thin film of Tb_xDy_(1−x)Fe_y is deposited on a metal seed layer by electrodeposition using a potentiostat in an aqueous solution. Bi-material cantilever structures with the Tb_0.36Dy_0.64Fe_1.9 thin-film are fabricated using microfabrication, and the magnetic actuation performances are evaluated under the application of a magnetic field. The actuators show large magnetostriction coefficients of approximately 1250 ppm at a magnetic field of 11000 Oe.

Inhibition of Zinc Dendrite Growth in Zinc-Based Batteries

Zinc deposition and dissolution is a significant process in zinc-based batteries. During this process, the formation of zinc dendrites is pervasive, which leads to the loss of efficiency and capacity of batteries. The continually growing dendrites will finally pierce the separator and cause the batteries to short circuit. Thus, employing effective methods to inhibit the formation and growth of zinc dendrites is vital for the practical application of zinc-based batteries. This Minireview first clarifies the formation and growth principles of zinc dendrites. Then, the research and development of methods to solve the problem of zinc dendrites are reviewed, including ways to suppress the further formation and growth of dendrites as far as possible, to minimize the adverse effects of dendrites, along with ways to produce dendrite-free deposition processes. The mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks, and perspectives of these methods are illustrated. Thus, this overview of these methods will aid understanding of the formation process of zinc dendrites and provide an extensive, comprehensive, and professional reference to resolve the problem of zinc dendrites completely.

Suppressing the dendritic growth of zinc in an ionic liquid containing cationic and anionic zinc complexes for battery applications

Metallic zinc is a promising negative electrode for high energy rechargeable batteries due to its abundance, low-cost and non-toxic nature. However, the formation of dendritic zinc and low Columbic efficiency in aqueous alkaline solutions during charge/discharge processes remain a great challenge. Here we demonstrate that the dendritic growth of zinc can be effectively suppressed in an ionic liquid electrolyte containing highly concentrated cationic and anionic zinc complexes obtained by dissolving zinc oxide and zinc trifluoromethylsulfonate in a protic ionic liquid, 1-ethylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate. The presence of both cationic and anionic zinc complexes alters the interfacial structure at the electrode/electrolyte interface and influences the nucleation and growth of zinc, leading to compact, homogeneous and dendrite-free zinc coatings. This study also provides insights into the development of highly concentrated metal salts in ionic liquids as electrolytes to deposit dendrite-free zinc as an anode material for energy storage applications.