Buffer interlayers in membraneless high voltage batteries

A method of forming a buffer interlayer zinc (Zn)-anode battery, the method comprising:

• disposing a catholyte in contact with a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises a cathode electroactive material, and wherein the catholyte has a pH of less than 4;
• disposing an anolyte in contact with an anode, wherein the anode comprises a Zn electroactive material, and wherein the anolyte has a pH of greater than 10;
• and
• disposing at least one buffer interlayer between the anolyte and the catholyte, wherein the catholyte is not in contact with the anode, wherein the anolyte is not in contact with the cathode, wherein the one or more buffer interlayers regulate a pH in the battery, and wherein the buffer interlayer zinc (Zn)-anode battery does not comprise an ion-exchange membrane.

A method for producing energy comprising:

• discharging a buffer interlayer high voltage zinc (Zn)-anode battery to a discharge voltage to produce energy, wherein the buffer interlayer high voltage Zn-anode battery comprises:
• a cathode comprising a cathode electroactive material;
• an anode comprising an anode electroactive material, wherein the anode electroactive material comprises a Zn electroactive material comprising Zn, and wherein at least a portion of the Zn of the Zn electroactive material is oxidized during the discharging to form oxidized zinc;
• a catholyte in contact with the cathode, wherein the catholyte is not in contact with the anode, and wherein the catholyte has a pH of less than 4;
• an anolyte in contact with the anode, wherein the anolyte is not in contact with the cathode, and wherein the anolyte has a pH of greater than 10;
• and
• one or more buffer interlayers disposed between the anolyte and the catholyte, wherein the one or more buffer interlayers regulate a pH in the battery, wherein the buffer interlayer high voltage Zn-anode batter does not comprise an ion exchange membrane;
• and
• charging the high voltage Zn-anode battery to a charge voltage, wherein at least a portion of the oxidized zinc is reduced to Zn during the charging.