π-π Stacking Induces Fast Zinc Ion Flux for High Power Zinc Ion Devices

Metallic zinc has been regarded as an ideal anode material for aqueous batteries due to its high capacity, abundance, and low toxicity. Numerous strategies have been proposed for anode protection to address its intrinsic deficiencies. However, existing methods can only suppress dendrite growth at limited current densities, and achieving stable cycling at high rates remains a great challenge. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) reveals that Mn-MOF, with a distinctive π-π stacking structure (π-MOF), can induce accelerated ion transfer dynamics, providing high-speed pathways for Zn²⁺ flux, which can enable stable deposition even at high rates. As anticipated, the π-MOF@Zn anode exhibits remarkable stability for over 1900 h with the lowest voltage hysteresis (71 mV) at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2. This study presents a viable approach to enhance the interface stability of high-rate metal anodes by modulating charge or ion behavior at the interface.