Paschen-Back effect modulation of SO42- hydration in magnetized electrolyte toward dendrite-free Zn-ion batteries

XY Yao and Z Wang and JW Guo and GY Qian and HC Wang and XZ Gong and D Wang, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 16, 5740 (2025).

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61310-2

Tuning anionic solvation structures and dynamic processes at solid- liquid interfaces is critical yet challenging for stabilizing Zn metal negative electrodes in Zn-ion batteries, particularly due to the issue of dendrite formation and hydrogen evolution reaction. Here, we show that highly hydrated SO42- can be effectively modulated under a strong magnetic field via the Paschen-Back effect on O-H vibrations, which reorients individual water molecules to manipulate Zn2+ solvation and protonated water clusters (H3O+). Molecular dynamics simulations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that the hydrated SO42--H2O complexes promote Zn2+ nucleation and deposition on the (002) plane, with preferential oxygen adsorption inhibiting two-dimensional Zn2+ diffusion. Moreover, magnetizing the electrolyte disrupts the Grotthuss proton-transfer pathway, suppressing H2 evolution and further reducing dendrite formation. By employing inexpensive permanent magnets without external power, this magnetization strategy offers a practical, energy- efficient route to enhance both the stability and performance of zinc- based rechargeable batteries.

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