A research team at Georgia Institute of Technology has discovered that fast charging can improve the performance of zinc-ion batteries, a finding that challenges conventional assumptions about battery degradation, the researchers said.
Led by Hailong Chen, an associate professor in Georgia Tech’s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, the team found that higher charging rates suppressed the formation of dendrites—needle-like metal spikes that can short-circuit batteries—allowing zinc to stack into smooth, dense layers. “We found that using faster charging actually suppressed dendrite formation instead of accelerating it,” Chen said.
Zinc-ion batteries are considered a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries because zinc is more abundant, less expensive, and safer. However, dendrite formation has historically limited their practical applications. The new findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest that fast charging may not only prevent this failure mode but also extend the battery’s lifespan.
Chen’s team developed a custom experimental tool to observe zinc’s behavior in real time under different charging speeds. “We weren’t just seeing whether the battery worked or not,” he said. “We were watching the structure of the material evolve as it charged.” This approach allowed the team to identify patterns in dendrite suppression that had previously gone unnoticed in laboratory tests.
While the zinc anode has shown improved performance, the cathode still requires optimization to match the anode’s durability. The team is experimenting with zinc blends to create a more robust full battery system.
Looking ahead, the researchers see potential for zinc-ion batteries in large-scale applications such as home solar energy storage and grid stabilization. “You can imagine these zinc-ion batteries being used to store solar energy in homes, or for grid stabilization. Anywhere you need reliable, affordable backup power,” Chen said. The team estimates that zinc-ion batteries could be commercially available within five years, providing an alternative amid fluctuating lithium prices and supply chain pressures.