Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Interphase for Stabilizing a Zinc Metal Anode in a Mild Aqueous Electrolyte

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-based batteries have recently gained tremendous attention because of their low cost and high safety. However, the issues associated with the zinc metal anode, including corrosion, H₂ evolution, and dendrite growth, hinder their practical applications. Herein, we design a hybrid organic/inorganic interphase composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), silica, and zinc triflate to stabilize the zinc metal anode in a mild aqueous electrolyte. It is proven that the artificial interphase reduces corrosion of the Zn metal in the ZnSO₄ electrolyte and suppresses dendrite growth by regulating Zn²⁺ deposition. Therefore, the lifespan of symmetrical cells with coated Zn could be enhanced to over 960 h with a stripping/plating capacity of 0.5 mAh cm^-2. In addition, zinc-ion batteries including a sodium vanadate cathode and a coated Zn anode could achieve 3000 cycles with nearly no capacity fading at 5 A g^-1.