Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The impact of indium metal as a minor bimetal on the anodic dissolution and passivation performance of zinc for alkaline batteries: part I—potentiodynamic, potentiostatic, XRD, SEM, and EDAX studies

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Zinc metal is an important element that can be used for long-life alkaline batteries. In this work, it is found that the addition of minor amounts of indium can slow down the corrosion rate and maintain the sacrificial protection of Zn in the alkaline media of batteries. The performance of anodic dissolution and passivation for Zn and Zn-In bimetal in the alkaline solution of 6 M KOH was investigated via potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods. Furthermore, the surface morphology of the corroded and passive layers of Zn and its alloys were examined utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDAX). Potentiodynamic curves show the active–passive transition for all investigated electrodes. The active dissolution and passive currents are gradually decreased as an increase of indium addition to Zn. This explains that the formed film on the surface of alloy becomes better protective than that formed on the surface of zinc. The values of activation energy (Ea) for both active and passive regions increased with the increase of the content of indium, and consequently, the smallest dissolution rate was detected at 1% In. The data obtained from the potentiostatic measurements confirm the results which are obtained from the potentiodynamic ones, where the mixing of indium to Zn diminishes the current density of both active and passive regions. XRD, SEM, and EDX analysis exhibited that the corrosion products on the surface of pure zinc are Zn(OH)2 and ZnO. While ZnO as well as In2O3 are formed on the alloyed zinc surface.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Li Y, Dai H (2014) Recent advances in zinc-air batteries. Chem Soc Rev 43:5257–5275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Gu P, Zheng M, Zhao Q, Xiao X, Xue H, Pang H (2017) Rechargeable zinc-air batteries: a promising way to green energy. J Mat Chem A 5:7651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Xia C, Black R, Fernandes R, Adams B, Nazar LF (2015) The critical role of phase-transfer catalysis in aprotic sodium oxygen batteries. Nat Chem 7:496–501

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pei P, Wang K, Ma Z (2014) Technologies for extending zinc–air battery’s cycle life: a review. Appl Energ 128:315–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Choi JW, Aurbach D (2016) Promise and reality of post-lithium-ion batteries with high energy densities. Nat Rev Mater 1:16013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang J, Xia Z, Dai L (2015) Carbon-based electrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage. Sci Adv 1:e1500564

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lam E, Luong JHT (2014) Carbon materials as catalyst supports and catalysts in the transformation of biomass to fuels and chemicals. ACS Catal 4:3393–3410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang Z, Xu D, Xu J, Zhang X (2014) Oxygen electrocatalysts in metal–air batteries: from aqueous to nonaqueous electrolytes. Chem Soc Rev 43:7746–7786

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhu Q, Cheng M, Zhang B, Jin K, Chen S, Ren Z, Yu Y (2019) Realizing rechargeable high performance Cu-Zn battery adjusting the solubility of Cu2+. Adv Funct Mater 29:1905979

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang D, Zhao Y, Liang G, Mo F, Li H, Tang T, Dang B, Chi C (2020) A zinc battery with ultra-flat discharge plateau through phase transition mechanism. Nano Energy 71:104583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Meng FL, Liu KH, Zhang Y, Chi MM, Zhang XB, Yan JM, Jiang Q (2018) Recent advances toward rational design of efficient bi functional air electrodes for rechargeable zinc-air batteries. Small 14:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  12. Han S, Hu X, Wang J, Fang X, Zhu Y (2018) Novel route to Fe-based cathode as an efficient bi functional catalysts for rechargeable zinc-air battery. Adv Energy mater 8:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lee JS, Nam G, Sun J, Higashi S, Lee HW, Lee S, Chen W, Cui Y, Cho J (2016) Composites of a Prussian blue analogue and gelatin-derived nitrogen-doped carbon-supported porous spinel oxides as electrocatalysts for zinc-air battery. Adv Energy Mater 6:1601052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Amiinu IS, Pu Z, Liu X, Owusu KA, Monestel HGR, Boakye FO, Zhang H, Mu S (2017) Multifunctional Mo-N/C@MoS2 electrocatalysts for HER, OER, ORR, and Zn-air batteries. Adv Funct Mater 27:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Amin MA, Hassan HH, Abd Rehim SS (2008) On the role of NO2− ions in passivity breakdown of Zn in deaerated neutral sodium nitrite solutions and the effect of some inorganic inhibitors: potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic voltammetry, SEM and EDX studies. Electrochim Acta 53:2600–2609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Liu K, Zhong H, Meng F, Zhang X, Yan J, Jiang Q (2017) Recent advances in metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for electrochemical water splitting. Mater Chem Front 1:2155–2173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhao Z, Fan X, Ding J, Hu W, Zhang C, Lu J (2019) The challenges in Zn electrodes for rechargeable alkaline Zn-air batteries: obstacles to commercialization. ACS Energy Lett 4:2259–2270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Verma C, Ebenso EE, Quraishi MA (2017) Ionic liquids as green and sustainable corrosion inhibitors for metals and alloys. An overview J Mol Liq 233:403–414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zuo Y, Yu Y, Zuo C, Ning C, Liu H, Gu Z, Cao Q, Shen C (2019) Low temperature performance of Al-air batteries. Energies 12:612

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Mainar AR, Colmenares LC, Blazquez JA, Urdampilleta I (2018) A brief of overview of secondary zinc anode development: the key of improving Zn-based energy storage systems. Int J Energy Res 42:903–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Thomas S, Birbilis N, Venkatraman MS, Cole IS (2013) Self repairing oxides to protect zinc: review, discussion and prospects. Corros Sci 69:11–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zeng RC, Hu YH, Zhang F, Huang YD, Zl W, Li SQ, Han EH (2016) Corrosion resistance of cerium-doped zinc calcium phosphate chemical conversion coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy. Trans Nonferrous Metals Soc China 26:472–483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Bahmani A, Arthanari S, Shin KS (2019) Corrosion behavior of Mg-Mn-Ca alloy: influences of Al, Sn, and Zn. J Magnes Alloy 7:38–46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. El-Sayed A, Mohran HS, Abd El-Lateef HM (2012) Corrosion study of zinc, nickel, and Zn-Ni alloys in alkaline solutions by Tafel plot and impedance techniques. Met Mater Trans A 43:619–632

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mainar A, Iruin E, Colmenares LC, Blazquez JA, Grande H (2018) Systematic cycle life assessment of a secondary zinc-air battery as a function of the alkaline electrolyte composition. Energy Sci Eng 6:174–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bereket G, Gulec M, Yurt A (2006) Inhibition efficiencies of some organic compounds on the corrosion of zinc in alkaline media. Anti-Corros Methods Mater 53:52–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Alkaine CVD, Berton MAC, Tulio PC (2003) Galvanostatic growth of passivating films under transient conditions. I. Model and quantitative analysis for the Zn/ZnO system. Port Electrochim Acta 21:15–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Othman R, Yahaya AH, Arof AK (2002) A zinc-air cell employing a porous zinc electrode fabricated from zinc-graphite-natural biodegradable poymer paste. J Appl Electrochem 32:1347–1353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bawazeer TM, El Dafrawy AM, El-Shafei AA (2017) Corrosion inhibition of zinc in sodium sulphate solution using nonionic surfactants of tween series: experimental and theoretical study. Colloids Surf A 520:694–700

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Pei- H, Chen- Yun H, Mei-Jing C, Tai-Hsuan L, Yi-Tian L, Szu-Chen L, Kea-Tiong T, Da-Jeng Y, Chia-Min Y (2012) Polymer ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposite platelets as superior sensing materials for gas detection with surface acoustic wave devices. Langmuir ACS 28:11639–11643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mainar AR, Colmenares LC, Grande H, Blazquez JA (2018) Enhancing the cycle life of a zinc-air battery by means of electrolye additives and zinc surface protection. Batteries 4:46

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Lee S, Kim Y, Eom S, Choi N, Kim KK, Cho S (2013) Improvement in self-discharge of zinc anode by applying surface modification for zinc-air batteries with energy density. J Power Sources 227:177–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lesaga A (2008) Zinc alloy powder for use in an alkaline battery. Patent Application Pub. No. US 2008/0153003 AI

  34. Vojtech D, Kubasek J, Novak SP (2011) Mechanical and corrosion properties of newly developed biodegradable Zn-based alloys for bone fixation. Acta Biomater 7:3515–3522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Liang H, Wang Z (2013) Effect of indium addition on the electrochemical behavior of zinc electrodes in concentrated alkaline solutions. Adv Mater Res 721:95–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Abd El Rehim SS, Hassan HH, Mohamed NF (2004) Anodic behaviour of tin in maleic acid solution and the effect of some inorganic inhibitors. Corros Sci 46:1071–1082

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sabooni S, Ahmadi M, Galinmoghaddam E, Westerwaal RJ, Boelsma C, Zoestbergen E, Song CM, Pei YT (2020) Fundamentals of the adhesion of physical vapor deposited ZnMg-Zn bilayer coatings to steel substrates. Mater Des 190:108560–108569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. El-Sayed A, Hossnia SM, Abd El-Lateef HM, Shilkamy HA (2015) Effect of indium alloying with lead together with the addition of phosphoric acid in electrolyte to improve lead-acid battery performance. J Solid State Electrochem 19:1463–1478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Moon K, Lee M, Kim K, Park K (2005) The effect of additives on the corrosion resistance of zinc electrode in alkaline battery system. Met Mater Int 11:221–226

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. El-Sayed A, Mohran HS, Abd El-Lateef HM (2010) Effect of minor nickel alloying with zinc on the electrochemical and corrosion behavior of zinc in alkaline solution. J Power Sources 195:6924–6936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. El-Sayed A, Mohran H, Shilkamy HA (2014) Role of indium alloying with lead as a means to reduce the passivation phenomena in lead/acid batteries. Int J Electrochem 2014:ID932654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. El-Sayed A, Mohran HS, Abd El-Lateef HM (2011) Inhibitive action of ferricyande complex anion on both corrosion and passivation of zinc and Zn-Ni alloy in the alkaline solution. J Power Sources 196:6573–6582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Mohran HS, El-Sayed A, Abd El-Lateef HM (2009) Anodic behavior of tin, indium and tin-indium alloys in oxalic acid solution. J Solid State of Electrochem 13:1279–1290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Zhao H, Zhang T, Guo Z (2017) The performance of Pb-Cu binary alloys used in lead-acid batteries. Adv Eng Res 141:414–417

    Google Scholar 

  45. El-Sayed A, Abd Lateef HM, Mohran HS (2015) Effect of nickel content on the anodic dissolution and passivation of zinc-nickel in alkaline solution by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic techniques. Bull Mater Sci 38:379–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Abd El-Lateef HM, El-Sayed A, Mohran HS (2015) Role of Ni content in improvement of corrosion resistance of Zn-Ni alloy in 3.5% NaCl solution. Part I: polarization and impedance studies. Trans Nonferrous Metals Soc China 25:2807–2816

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Mohran HS, El-Sayed A, Abd El-Lateef HM (2009) Hydrogen evolution reaction on Sn, In and Sn-In alloys in caraboxylic acids. J Solid State Electrochem 13:1147–1155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Chen Y, Lobo RFM, Santos DMF, Sequeira CAC (2009) Kinetic measurements during transient film growth on zinc. Quim Nova 32:387–390

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Zha L, Li H, Wang N (2020) In situ electrochemical study of the growth kinetics of passive film on TCII alloy in sulfate solution at 300 °C/10 MPa. Materials 13:1135

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Hassan HH (2001) Corrosion behavior of zinc in sodium perchlorate solutions. Appl Surf Sci 174:201–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Elrouby M, Shilkamy HA, El-Sayed A (2021) Development of the electrochemical performance of zinc via alloying with indium as anodes for alkaline batteries application. J Alloys Compd 845:157285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

    Abd El-Rahman Elsayed, Hoda A. El-Shafy Shilkamy & Mahmoud Elrouby

Authors
  1. Abd El-Rahman Elsayed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hoda A. El-Shafy Shilkamy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mahmoud Elrouby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Abd El-Rahman Elsayed or Mahmoud Elrouby.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Elsayed, A.ER., Shilkamy, H.A.ES. & Elrouby, M. The impact of indium metal as a minor bimetal on the anodic dissolution and passivation performance of zinc for alkaline batteries: part I—potentiodynamic, potentiostatic, XRD, SEM, and EDAX studies. J Solid State Electrochem 25, 2161–2174 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-04998-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-021-04998-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation