Xanthan gum, derived from plants such as cabbage and known for its carbohydrate content, serves as a natural protective barrier in cosmetics to preserve their benefits on the skin. In a recent development, this remarkable substance has been used to create a protective shield for battery electrodes instead of the skin.
Professor Changshin Jo of the Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Eco Materials Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Jooyoung Jang, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), have created a protective film by mixing polymers. This film improves the durability of battery electrodes, and their research has been published in the international journal Energy Storage Materials.
Because renewable energy sources such as solar power are inherently intermittent, the importance of energy storage systems (ESS) is growing. ESS technology enables the capture and efficient use of electricity when it is needed, making it a critical element in the utilization of renewable energy. While lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have traditionally been used for ESS applications, their high cost and concerns about lithium depletion have prompted ongoing research into alternative solutions.
One promising alternative to lithium is zinc (Zn), an abundant element on Earth. Zinc-ion batteries have the capacity to store significant amounts of energy and are safer in terms of fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries. However, achieving a uniform deposition of zinc on the electrodes in ESS batteries is a challenging task, and the repeated charging and discharging cycles tend to lead to the formation of branch-like crystals on the zinc surface, which reduces the battery’s lifetime.
In this investigation, the research team used the biopolymer xanthan gum in combination with an ionically conductive polymer to form a protective film for the battery electrode. The interaction between these two polymers resulted in a smooth, protective layer on the electrode surface that effectively shielded it from physical impacts and chemical contaminants.
In addition, this protective film was rich in oxygen functional groups, which played a critical role in facilitating uniform nucleation of zinc, resulting in efficient deposition of zinc on the electrode surface. As a result, the formation of branch-like crystals on the zinc surface was significantly reduced, and the film showed remarkable stability even after 200 days of repeated charging and discharging.
Professor Changshin Jo said, “I hope this research will contribute to the advancement of ESS technology for sustainable green energy generation.
The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning.
