Small angle X-ray scattering to probe ion solvation and electrolyte structure in hybrid eutectic electrolytes

Project Description

Large-scale long- duration energy storage is essential for transitioning to a renewable energy-based grid. Zinc/manganese dioxide batteries offer a promising solution due to their low cost, inherent safety, and reliance on earth-abundant resources. Hybrid eutectic electrolyte systems comprised of water, an organic co-solvent, and inorganic salts (e.g. MnCl2 and ZnCl2) are attracting significant interest for applications in aqueous zinc battery systems. Common organic co-solvents of interest (e.g. sulfolane and dimethyl sulfoxide) contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, which promotes molecular self-organization by minimizing contact between the hydrophobic regions and water. The overarching goal of this project is to determine how the water-to-organic co-solvent ratio, salt concentration, and salt anion species influence cation solvation and mesoscale electrolyte structure in hybrid eutectic electrolytes. To achieve this, we will perform small-angle X-ray scattering measurements on key electrolyte systems to obtain structural information including correlation length, morphology, and density fluctuations.

Instruments