3D Architected Zn With Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Patterned Surfaces as Stable and Robust Anodes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc batteries offer safe and cost-effective energy storage.
• Zinc anodes face limitations due to dendrite formation and electrolyte corrosion, hindering reversibility.
• Developing stable zinc anodes is crucial for advancing battery technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a robust and stable 3D zinc anode using a hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned surface.
• To improve the cycling performance and lifespan of aqueous zinc batteries.
• To address the challenges of dendrite growth and electrolyte degradation in zinc anodes.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a 3D zinc architecture with specifically patterned hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces.
• Electrochemical testing of symmetric zinc batteries to evaluate stripping and plating behavior.
• Assembly and testing of zinc-ion capacitors to assess long-term cycling stability.

Main Results:

• The 3D zinc anode demonstrated significantly improved zinc stripping and plating reversibility.
• Symmetric batteries achieved 2500 hours of stable cycling at 5 mA cm⁻².
• Zinc-ion capacitors maintained 76% capacity retention over 5000 cycles at 0.5 A g⁻¹.

Conclusions:

• The integrated hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned 3D zinc architecture provides a stable and dendrite-free anode.
• This approach offers a reliable solution for enhancing the performance of aqueous zinc batteries.
• Rational design strategies are effective in overcoming limitations in metal battery anodes.