Zinc battery elecrtolyte additive

Abstract

An electrolyte additive is provided. The additive is a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt effective to suppress hydrogen evolution and metal dendrite formation during operation of a zinc electrochemical cell such as a zinc-air battery. A zinc battery cell is also provided, which contains an effective amount of the electrolyte additive.

1 . A composition, comprising: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, N/P is a central nitrogen atom having a +1 charge; 
         wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of 2 methylene-chlorobenzene, 3 methylene-bromobenzene, 2-methylene-bromobenzene, 4-methylene-cyanobenzene, 3-methylene-cyanobenzene, 2-methylene-cyanobenzene, 1 methylene-2,4-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-3,4-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-2,5-dimethylbenzene, 3 -methylene-benzoic acid, 2-methylene-benzoic acid, 2-methylene-phenol, 3-methylene-phenol, and 2 methylene-anisole; and 
         wherein [An]− is a counter anion. 
       
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein N/P is phosphorous and R1 is methylene benzene. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the counter anion is selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, hydroxide, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, sulphite, phosphate, perchlorate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A composition, comprising: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein, N/P is a central phosphorous atom having a +1 charge; 
         wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of 3-methylene-toluene, 2-methylene-toluene, 3-methylene-chlorobenzene, 2-methylene-chlorobenzene, 4-methylene-bromobenzene, 3-methylene-bromobenzene, 2-methylene-bromobenzene, 4-methylene-cyanobenzene, 3-methylene-cyanobenzene, 2-methylene-cyanobenzene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 1-methylene-2,6-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-2,4-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-3,4-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-2,5-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-3,5-dimethylbenzene, 1-methylene-2,6-dichlorobenzene, 4-methylene-benzoic acid, 3-methylene-benzoic acid, 2-methylene-benzoic acid, 2-methylene-phenol, 3-methylene-phenol, 4-methylene-phenol, 4-methylene-anisole, 3-methylene-anisole, 2-methylene-anisole; and 
         wherein [An]− is a counter anion. 
       
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein R1 is methylene benzene. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the counter anion is selected from chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, hydroxide, nitrate, nitrite, sulphate, sulphite, phosphate, perchlorate, or any combination thereof.