Novel Anchored Branched Polymer Coating Layers for Enhanced Redox Kinetics in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Hyeong Seop Jeong; Dong Il Kim; Wooseok Lee; Hee Bin Jeong; Seunghwan Jo; Junsung Byeon; Yongjae Kwon; Younghwan Choi; Won Bo Lee; Seung Nam Cha; Jin Pyo Hong; Jung Inn Sohn; Yong Joo Kim; John Hong

doi:10.1002/eem2.12872

Novel Anchored Branched Polymer Coating Layers for Enhanced Redox Kinetics in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Hyeong Seop Jeong, Dong Il Kim, Wooseok Lee, Hee Bin Jeong, Seunghwan Jo, Junsung Byeon, Yongjae Kwon, Younghwan Choi, Won Bo Lee, Seung Nam Cha, Jin Pyo Hong, Jung Inn Sohn, Yong Joo Kim, John Hong

Department of Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The fundamental issues associated with Zn anodes prevent the commercialization of aqueous Zn ion batteries. To address this, a simple dip-coating method was used to coordinate a thin layer of branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI) polymer onto the electrode surface. This process increases hydrophilicity and reduces interfacial resistance between the electrode and aqueous electrolyte. Consequently, electrolyte leaching from the hydrophilic polymer coating layer is prevented, charge distribution is uniform, and stable electrochemical performance is maintained over extended periods. In symmetric cell testing, the b-PEI@Zn anode exhibits a lifespan of over 1400 h (3 mA cm⁻², 1 mAh cm⁻²). Furthermore, full-cell tests, the b-PEI@Zn anode demonstrates higher capacity (+26.05%) and improved stability (95.4%) compared to the bare Zn anode (0.5 A g⁻¹). This study presents a practical surface modification strategy for Zn anodes and underscores the potential of innovative polymer-based electrode coatings for aqueous battery applications.

Original language	English
Article number	e12872
Journal	Energy and Environmental Materials
Volume	8
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.12872
State	Published - Jul 2025

Keywords

aqueous zinc-ion batteries
coordination bond
dip-coating
poly ethylenimine
zinc metal anode

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Novel Anchored Branched Polymer Coating Layers for Enhanced Redox Kinetics in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries",

abstract = "The fundamental issues associated with Zn anodes prevent the commercialization of aqueous Zn ion batteries. To address this, a simple dip-coating method was used to coordinate a thin layer of branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI) polymer onto the electrode surface. This process increases hydrophilicity and reduces interfacial resistance between the electrode and aqueous electrolyte. Consequently, electrolyte leaching from the hydrophilic polymer coating layer is prevented, charge distribution is uniform, and stable electrochemical performance is maintained over extended periods. In symmetric cell testing, the b-PEI@Zn anode exhibits a lifespan of over 1400 h (3 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2). Furthermore, full-cell tests, the b-PEI@Zn anode demonstrates higher capacity (+26.05%) and improved stability (95.4%) compared to the bare Zn anode (0.5 A g−1). This study presents a practical surface modification strategy for Zn anodes and underscores the potential of innovative polymer-based electrode coatings for aqueous battery applications.",

keywords = "aqueous zinc-ion batteries, coordination bond, dip-coating, poly ethylenimine, zinc metal anode",

author = "Jeong, {Hyeong Seop} and Kim, {Dong Il} and Wooseok Lee and Jeong, {Hee Bin} and Seunghwan Jo and Junsung Byeon and Yongjae Kwon and Younghwan Choi and Lee, {Won Bo} and Cha, {Seung Nam} and Hong, {Jin Pyo} and Sohn, {Jung Inn} and Kim, {Yong Joo} and John Hong",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.",

year = "2025",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1002/eem2.12872",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Energy and Environmental Materials",

issn = "2575-0348",

publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Inc.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Novel Anchored Branched Polymer Coating Layers for Enhanced Redox Kinetics in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

AU - Jeong, Hyeong Seop

AU - Kim, Dong Il

AU - Lee, Wooseok

AU - Jeong, Hee Bin

AU - Jo, Seunghwan

AU - Byeon, Junsung

AU - Kwon, Yongjae

AU - Choi, Younghwan

AU - Lee, Won Bo

AU - Cha, Seung Nam

AU - Hong, Jin Pyo

AU - Sohn, Jung Inn

AU - Kim, Yong Joo

AU - Hong, John

PY - 2025/7

Y1 - 2025/7

N2 - The fundamental issues associated with Zn anodes prevent the commercialization of aqueous Zn ion batteries. To address this, a simple dip-coating method was used to coordinate a thin layer of branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI) polymer onto the electrode surface. This process increases hydrophilicity and reduces interfacial resistance between the electrode and aqueous electrolyte. Consequently, electrolyte leaching from the hydrophilic polymer coating layer is prevented, charge distribution is uniform, and stable electrochemical performance is maintained over extended periods. In symmetric cell testing, the b-PEI@Zn anode exhibits a lifespan of over 1400 h (3 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2). Furthermore, full-cell tests, the b-PEI@Zn anode demonstrates higher capacity (+26.05%) and improved stability (95.4%) compared to the bare Zn anode (0.5 A g−1). This study presents a practical surface modification strategy for Zn anodes and underscores the potential of innovative polymer-based electrode coatings for aqueous battery applications.

AB - The fundamental issues associated with Zn anodes prevent the commercialization of aqueous Zn ion batteries. To address this, a simple dip-coating method was used to coordinate a thin layer of branched polyethyleneimine (b-PEI) polymer onto the electrode surface. This process increases hydrophilicity and reduces interfacial resistance between the electrode and aqueous electrolyte. Consequently, electrolyte leaching from the hydrophilic polymer coating layer is prevented, charge distribution is uniform, and stable electrochemical performance is maintained over extended periods. In symmetric cell testing, the b-PEI@Zn anode exhibits a lifespan of over 1400 h (3 mA cm−2, 1 mAh cm−2). Furthermore, full-cell tests, the b-PEI@Zn anode demonstrates higher capacity (+26.05%) and improved stability (95.4%) compared to the bare Zn anode (0.5 A g−1). This study presents a practical surface modification strategy for Zn anodes and underscores the potential of innovative polymer-based electrode coatings for aqueous battery applications.

KW - aqueous zinc-ion batteries

KW - coordination bond

KW - dip-coating

KW - poly ethylenimine

KW - zinc metal anode

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DO - 10.1002/eem2.12872

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ER -

Novel Anchored Branched Polymer Coating Layers for Enhanced Redox Kinetics in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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