# Nanodiamond Regulated Electrolyte Enhances Thermal, Chemical and Structural Properties for Highly Reversible Zn Metal Anodes

## TL;DR

Adding nanodiamonds to electrolytes improves zinc batteries by reducing heat, gas, and corrosion, making them safer and longer-lasting.

## Contribution

Nanodiamond additives are introduced to enhance thermal and electrochemical performance in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

## Key findings

- Nanodiamonds reduce heat generation and temperature rise in zinc batteries.
- ND-based electrolytes suppress dendrite growth and water decomposition.
- Pouch batteries with ND show only 26% volume change versus 76% with commercial electrolytes.

## Abstract

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) suffer from inevitable internal resistance‐induced heat generation and competing hydrogen evolution, leading to high external cooling energy consumption and potential safety hazards. In this report, an electrolyte engineering strategy is proposed, involving nanodiamond (ND) additives to the commercial electrolyte. The ND particles assist in the reconstruction of the hydrogen bond network, reducing the desolvation energy of Zn2+, promoting the preferential deposition of (002) oriented Zn crystals, and effectively inhibiting water decomposition, Zn dendrite growth and heat‐induced side reactions. Importantly, compared to commercial counterparts, ND‐related electrolytes show relatively low impedance and high specific heat capacity (thermal conductivity), resulting in much reduced heat evolution and temperature rise. Such improvements are due to the key properties of nanodiamond, including its large specific surface area, abundant surface functional groups, and exceptional thermal conductivity. These collective enhancements not only minimize thermal and chemical side reactions but also reduce the internal pressure build‐up, as evidenced by only a 26% volume‐change in ND‐based pouch batteries, compared to a 76% rise with commercial electrolytes. Consequently, both coin cells and pouch batteries with the ND‐modified electrolyte exhibit much improved long‐term cyclability, specific capacity, rate capacity and coulombic efficiency, compared to those without NDs.

Nanodiamond additives are dispersed in the aqueous electrolyte to organize water molecules, suppress gas evolution and metal corrosion, and guide zinc to deposit more uniformly. Together with enhanced thermal conductivity for fast heat removal, this strategy reduces temperature rise and degradation, enabling safer, more durable rechargeable zinc metal batteries in practical devices.