Seminar by Dr. Kingshuk Roy, TCG Crest, Kolkata on “Realization, Quantification and Mitigation of Hydrogen Evolution for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries”.

02 Aug 2024
Seminar Room # 350, second floor annex

Speaker: Dr. Kingshuk Roy
TCG Crest, Kolkata

Title: “Realization, Quantification and Mitigation of
Hydrogen Evolution for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries”.

Day and Date: Friday, August 02, 2024

Time: 11.00 am.

Venue: Room no. 350, Chemistry Department
Second floor, Annex
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Hosted by Prof. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan

Talk Title : “Realization, Quantification and Mitigation of Hydrogen Evolution for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries”.
Abstract
Aqueous Zinc (Zn) metal batteries (AZMBs) offer significant advantages, including high specific capacity, low redox potential, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced safety. However, their practical deployment is hindered by challenges such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), Zn substrate corrosion, and dendrite growth, which collectively degrade battery performance and cyclability. This talk will present our recent advancements in addressing these critical issues. We employed in-situ electrochemical mass spectrometry (ECMS), scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) to quantitatively monitor HER during Zn electrodeposition, discovering that even a small fraction of HER (0.3%) significantly impacts long-term battery performance. Our investigation revealed a strong correlation between HER and the porous morphology of electrodeposited Zn, highlighting the detrimental effects of trapped H2 and Zn corrosion during charging. To mitigate these challenges, we also developed a novel additive that effectively alters the Zn2+ solvation matrix and disrupts the hydrogen bond network of free water. This additive significantly suppresses HER and dendrite formation, resulting in a 25-fold improvement in cycle life. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, density functional theory studies, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, confirmed the formation of ion-conductive SEI components and uniform Zn growth. Overall, this talk will provide crucial insights into HER mechanisms and pave the way for designing more stable and efficient AZMBs, thereby advancing the development of next-generation energy storage technologies. *Bio:* Dr. Kingshuk Roy is an assistant professor in the field of energy storage at the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE), TCG CREST, Kolkata. He specializes in the fundamental and interfacial electrochemistry for next-generation energy storage devices. Prior to his current position, Kingshuk conducted postdoctoral research under the guidance of Prof. Jeffrey E. Dick at Purdue University, where he focused on fundamental electrochemistry and kinetic measurements for various electrochemical energy storage systems. Kingshuk has extensive experience in the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials for battery applications, resulting in over 20 high-impact journal publications and two international patents. His exceptional research contributions earned him the "Outstanding Young Scientist" award at Purdue University. At RISE, TCG CREST, Dr. Roy's research group will concentrate on developing electrolyte additives, co-solvents, and diluents and understanding interfaces and interphases for next-generation aqueous and non-aqueous metal batteries, advancing the development of innovative energy storage solutions.