Speaker: Prof. Sayan Bagchi
Associate Professor (AcSIR) & Principal Scientist,
CSIR - National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India
Title: "Water-Enhanced Deep Eutectic Electrolytes for Stable
Zinc-Ion Batteries."
Day and Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Time: 11.00 am.
Venue: Room no. 350, Chemistry Department
Second floor, Annex
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Hosted by Prof. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan
Abstract Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging as safer and more sustainable
alternatives to traditional Li-ion batteries. Among the critical
components of ZIBs, the electrolyte plays a key role in determining
electrochemical performance and battery efficiency. However, conventional
aqueous electrolytes pose challenges for Zn anodes, including poor
reversibility and limited cycling stability caused by dendrite formation.
To address these issues, "Water-in-Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES)"
electrolytes have garnered attention as eco-friendly and cost-effective
solutions. Despite their promise, fundamental questions remain unanswered:
the optimal water content in DES, the effect of water on electrolyte
dynamics, the disruption of DES hydrogen bonding networks, and the changes
in the Zn²⁺ solvation structure in water-in-DES systems. Using
ultrafast 2D IR and 2D NMR spectroscopy, we investigate solvent dynamics,
structural rearrangements, and hydrogen bonding behavior across varying
water concentrations, both with and without Zn salts. Complementing these
experimental methods, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide insights
at the molecular level. Our findings reveal that adding 10 moles of water
per mole of DES optimizes electrolyte performance, as confirmed by peak
conductivity in impedance spectroscopy. These results offer valuable
insights into improving ZIB electrolytes and enhancing their practical
applicability.