The push for zinc batteries is gaining momentum with a water-based electrolyte that reduces dendrites, protects the metal, and promises to lower the cost of solar and wind energy storage when the wind and sun are not available.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 26/04/2026 at 18:52

Updated on 26/04/2026 at 18:53

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With a new aqueous electrolyte developed by researchers at the University of Maryland and Brookhaven National Laboratory, zinc batteries achieved 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles and a density of up to 130 Wh/kg, reinforcing their potential to store solar and wind energy at a lower cost

Researchers at the University of Maryland and Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed new aqueous electrolytes that can improve the performance of zinc batteries, with a coulombic efficiency of 99.99% over 1,000 cycles and energy densities of up to 130 Wh/kg. The breakthrough was presented in an article published in Nature Nanotechnology in 2026, and addresses one of the main obstacles to cheap, safe, and stable renewable energy storage.

The proposal seeks to make the use of aqueous zinc metal batteries more viable in systems connected to electricity generated by sources such as solar cells and wind turbines. These technologies are increasingly producing energy in many countries but rely on reliable storage so that electricity can be used when there is little sunlight or wind.

Dejian Dong, the first author of the paper, examines a newly prepared electrolyte sample in the lab. Credit: Dong et al.

Zinc Batteries Advance with New Aqueous Electrolyte

Zinc batteries are seen as a promising alternative because they use water-based solutions and zinc anodes to store and release energy. The model combines low cost, safety, and ecological characteristics, important factors for solar and wind energy storage applications.

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Goal Was to Increase Lifespan Without Raising Costs

The main objective of the work was to extend the lifespan and increase the efficiency of zinc batteries without raising production costs. The research was led by Dr. Dejian Dong, from Chunsheng Wang’s group, senior author of the paper.

Wang explained that electrolytes known as “water-in-salt” had already extended the electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes to 3.0 V. This allowed zinc batteries to achieve a long lifespan but brought difficulties related to cost, viscosity, and a drop in ionic conductivity.

In the new work, researchers developed low-concentration aqueous electrolytes. The proposal offers similar performance to water-in-salt electrolytes but with low viscosity, lower cost, and high conductivity.

The developed solutions contain water and salts with specific donor numbers. These numbers influence how the salts interact with zinc ions within the battery.

Anion-Bridged Layer Protects Zinc

The team used fluorinated anions capable of interacting not only with Zn²⁺ but also with water molecules present around the solvation structure. This interaction forms a secondary anion-bridged solvation layer.

Dong explained that this structure helps protect zinc against water-induced secondary reactions. The layer also contributes to a more stable interface and preserves good transport properties in the electrolyte.

The researchers observed that aqueous electrolytes containing salts with donor numbers above 18 improved ionic interactions in zinc batteries. These salts favored the formation of a more stable molecular structure around the zinc.

With this more organized structure, there was a reduction in the formation of zinc dendrites. The result was a higher overall performance in batteries tested in the laboratory.

Dong stated that the current electrolyte design, based on regulating the primary solvation shell, faces the challenge of improving one property at the expense of others. The innovation of this work lies in acting on the secondary solvation structure, paving the way to simultaneously improve different electrolyte properties.

Tests indicate 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles

After developing the new electrolytes, the researchers used them to create zinc batteries and conduct laboratory tests. The results indicated a coulombic efficiency of 99.99% during 1,000 cycles of operation.

The batteries also achieved energy densities of up to 130 Wh/kg. These data indicate a significant step towards improved energy storage solutions in electrical grids.

The study opens new possibilities for the advancement of zinc batteries. The design strategy could be used to develop other aqueous electrolytes with similar salt concentrations and desirable donor numbers.

Wang stated that the work offers a new perspective for electrolyte design. The approach presents a way to simultaneously maintain high ionic conductivity, low cost, and improved interfacial stability.

Renewable storage can become more accessible

Low-cost, safe, and high-performance zinc batteries could gain traction in larger-scale applications if aqueous electrolytes advance to commercialization. Widespread deployment of the technology could make renewable energy storage more accessible and economical.

This advancement directly connects to the need to store electricity produced by solar panels and wind turbines. The ability to use this energy during periods of lower generation increases the effectiveness of these sources as sustainable solutions.

Future studies will extend the concept to other types of electrolytic systems. The team also intends to employ advanced characterization techniques and theoretical approaches to better understand interfacial processes and their mechanisms.

With the new electrolyte strategy, zinc batteries now have a clearer path to overcome historical limitations in stability, cost, and performance. The work indicates that changes in the secondary solvation structure can expand the potential of this technology in renewable energy storage.

Study available in Nature Nanotechnology.

The push for zinc batteries is gaining momentum with a water-based electrolyte that reduces dendrites, protects the metal, and promises to lower the cost of solar and wind energy storage when the wind and sun are not available.

With a new aqueous electrolyte developed by researchers at the University of Maryland and Brookhaven National Laboratory, zinc batteries achieved 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles and a density of up to 130 Wh/kg, reinforcing their potential to store solar and wind energy at a lower cost

Zinc Batteries Advance with New Aqueous Electrolyte

Goal Was to Increase Lifespan Without Raising Costs

Anion-Bridged Layer Protects Zinc

Tests indicate 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles

Renewable storage can become more accessible

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The push for zinc batteries is gaining momentum with a water-based electrolyte that reduces dendrites, protects the metal, and promises to lower the cost of solar and wind energy storage when the wind and sun are not available.

With a new aqueous electrolyte developed by researchers at the University of Maryland and Brookhaven National Laboratory, zinc batteries achieved 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles and a density of up to 130 Wh/kg, reinforcing their potential to store solar and wind energy at a lower cost

Zinc Batteries Advance with New Aqueous Electrolyte

Goal Was to Increase Lifespan Without Raising Costs

Anion-Bridged Layer Protects Zinc

Tests indicate 99.99% efficiency over 1,000 cycles

Renewable storage can become more accessible

The Soviet Union spent 22 years drilling into the Earth’s crust and reached a depth of 12,262 meters — they found water where it was thought impossible, hydrogen bubbling from the rock, granite that is 2.7 billion years old, and temperatures of 180 degrees that melted the drill bits.

Egypt wants to draw 10 million cubic meters of water from the Nile per day into the desert, irrigate a new agricultural frontier, and build a city where there is currently only sand.

Norway is drilling 27 kilometers of rock 392 meters below the bottom of a fjord to build the world’s largest and deepest underwater road tunnel — when completed, a 21-hour journey will be reduced to 10.

A German architect built a cylindrical house in 1994 that rotates to follow the sun throughout the day, generates 5 times more energy than it consumes, and was the world’s first energy-positive house.

An astronaut spent 340 days in space while his twin brother stayed on Earth, and NASA found a “rejuvenating” effect, genes, microbiome, cognition, and immune system that revealed the biological cost of living outside the planet.

Xiaomi launches new smart stove with titanium sensor and automatic shutdown that detects an open flame without supervision.

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