Offense-Defense-Balanced Strategy Escorting Tellurium Oxidation Conversion Towards Energetic and Long-Life Zn Batteries

Among six-electron Te conversion for energetic aqueous Zn batteries, the main capacity contributor, Te-0/Te4+ redox usually causes substantial battery capacity/life discount due to its sluggish kinetics/poor reversibility. Herein, for the first time, an offense-defense-balanced strategy to simultaneously address the deficiencies is reported. Beyond previous proton- or reductant-regulated solutions, this strategy efficaciously reconciles the pending capacity-lifespan conflict. As a proof of concept, additive-level nucleophilic chlorine ions (Cl-) and reductive glucose (Glu) in electrolytes are synergistically employed as "offensiver" and "defender" for Te-0/Te4+ conversion, respectively. The Cl-/Glu co-additive well inherits the nucleophilic motivation effect of Cl- on Te-0/Te4+ conversion, and eliminates the formation of Cl--induced diffluent metastable phase (gamma-TeO2), enabling a deep and highly reversible Te-0/Te4+ redox. Compared with co(-)additive-free electrolytes, the activation energy for Te conversion is lowered (61.4 vs. 52.8 kJ mol(-1)), and the shuttle of active materials is effectively inhibited. Consequently, Zn||Te batteries deliver a volumetric capacity of approximately theoretical value (2409 mAh cm(-3)) at 0.2 A g(-1), and a 15 similar to 30-fold longer lifespan than those in conventional electrolytes (over 5000 cycles with a decay of only 0.15 parts per thousand per cycle at 4 A g(-1)). This work opens a new avenue to develop other chalcogen conversion-based aqueous Zn batteries.