ANR project

Unified understanding of the aqueous (electro)chemistry of zinc through multi-scale Operando characterizations

Dates:
October 2022 – September 2026

Project coordinator:
Joël GAUBICHER (ST2E team)

Partner laboratories :

  • French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission (CEA-LITEN Grenoble)
  • CIC Energigune Álava, Spain
  • Chemistry and Interdisciplinarity, Synthesis, Analysis, Modeling” (CEISAM Nantes)

IMN staff involved:
Stéphane CUENOT, Bernard HUMBERT, Ivan LUCAS, Philippe POIZOT, Patrick SOUDAN

Recent advances in the field of zinc electrodeposition in aqueous electrolytes have significantly alleviated its two main problems, namely zinc dendritic growth and hydrogen formation, providing a strong impetus for the development of aqueous zinc batteries (ZnB). However, from a fundamental point of view, the understanding of the mechanisms underlying these problems has not only recently been completely challenged but is also probably incomplete, mainly because the interfacial chemistry involved at the zinc surface during repeated electrodeposition is not understood. Therefore, based on synergistic collaborations, the main objective of the ZORG consortium is to achieve a unified understanding of the dynamic chemistry of zinc and its morphological evolution at different scales during repeated electrodeposition, using an innovative set of multiscale operandi techniques. ZORG also aims to validate and extend the expected knowledge by assessing the impact of the electroactive material of the other electrode facing the zinc one, and to design new electrolytic salts and additives.