Synergistic crystallographic orientation and solvation structure engineering construct stable zinc anodes for durable...

Aqueous Zn-ion rechargeable batteries (ARZIBs) attract growing interest for their superior energy density, intrinsic safety, and low cost. However, parasitic reactions occurring at the Zn anode/electrolyte interface-notably the formation of Zn dendrites and the accumulation of inert by-products-substantially compromise Coulombic efficiency (CE), cycling durability, and overall cell safety. To mitigate these issues, serine (Ser) is introduced as an eco-friendly and low-cost additive, resulting in enhanced Zn anode stability in a conventional ZnSO₄ electrolyte. Experiment and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Ser selectively coats the Zn (1 0 1) facet, building a hydrophobic-zincophilic interphase. Coupling with electrolyte structure modulation, the crystal orientation regulation effect effectively suppresses hydrogen evolution and dendrite growth. Consequently, the Zn anode exhibits not only a high reversible plating/stripping lifespan over 1700 h operated at 20 mA cm^-2 in symmetric cells, but also a remarkable cycling stability in Zn||Na₂V₆O₁₆∙3H₂O full cells with a capacity retention of 80.4 % after 1000 cycles at 2 A g^-1. This study highlights the promise of Ser as a crystallographic modifier for Zn anodes, offering a straightforward and efficient approach to advancing ARZIBs.