Innovative synergistic control of electric fields and Zn²⁺ dynamics for revolutionizing zinc metal battery stability

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging as promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their inherent safety, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their widespread application is hindered by challenges such as dendritic Zn growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion-induced passivation, which compromise performance and scalability. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a novel dual-interface modified zinc anode by integrating a zinc fluoride (ZnF₂)-silicon (Si) interface using fluorine-doped silicon nanoparticles encapsulated within hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres (F-Si@HMCS). The in situ formation of a ZnF₂ layer provides high electrochemical stability, effectively suppressing dendrite formation, mitigating zinc corrosion, and reducing side reactions with the electrolyte. The silica layer further facilitates uniform Zn electrodeposition by forming Si-O-Zn bonds, which regulate electric field distribution and lower nucleation energy barriers. Additionally, the hollow mesoporous carbon structure facilitates efficient ion transport and acts as a buffer against volume changes during cycling. Consequently, the F-Si@HMCS@Zn electrode exhibits a long lifespan of over 2500 h at 5 mA cm^-2 with a capacity of 0.5 mA h cm^-2 in a symmetrical cell test. When coupled with α-MnO₂ cathodes, the resulting ZIBs exhibit outstanding stable cycle life over 2000 cycles at 2 A g^-1.