CAREER: Uncovering Molecular Design Principles Linking Additive Chemistry to Zn Anode Structure and Interfacial Electrochemistry

Safe, affordable, and long-lasting batteries are essential to the U.S. energy infrastructure. Aqueous zinc batteries use a non-flammable electrolyte and earth-abundant materials, which makes them a strong candidate for grid storage. However, they have a relatively short lifetime. This CAREER project will conduct experiments to control metal growth at the battery’s anode so that batteries remain stable over long periods. The research will yield design principles that explain how electrolyte additives delay battery degradation. Outcomes from the project will benefit other battery systems (e.g. Li, Na, Mg). The findings will impact related fields such as electrocatalysis and corrosion science. The project will integrate research with education by training students in advanced materials science and electrochemistry. Through research-driven mentoring and outreach activities (e.g. differentiated instruction, hands-on modules, and scaffolded mentoring pipelines), the project will help prepare a skilled workforce capable of addressing pressing energy challenges. This project will establish a predictive mechanistic framework connecting additive chemistry, electrodeposited zinc structures, and their interfacial evolution during electrochemical cycling. The project will pursue three objectives: (1) determine how liquid-liquid and liquid-solid molecular interactions modify surface energies and direct growth pathways; (2) reveal how electric field strength governs ion diffusion and deposition kinetics; and (3) identify how atomic arrangement and defect populations influence dendrite initiation and interfacial reactions. Engineered zinc anodes will serve as model platforms to interrogate structure-property relationships. Operando characterization combined with cycle-resolved post-mortem analysis will track structural, morphological and chemical evolution from early to extended cycling, enabling identification of degradation onset and mechanisms. By correlating additive chemistry with growth behavior and long-term stability, the project will transform additive selection from empirical practice to mechanism-guided design. The resulting chemistry-structure-property relationships are expected to provide transferable principles for controlled electrodeposition across a broad class of metal systems, advancing the scientific foundation of next-generation rechargeable batteries. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2542815 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Yuting Luo | Institution: Johns Hopkins University, BALTIMORE, MD | Award Amount: $695,630 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2542815 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2542815.html