Coordination zinc ion deposition kinetics through interfacial hydrogen bonding network for high-performance aqueous...

Uncontrolled dendritic deposition combined with water-induced side reactions accelerates interfacial degradation of Zn anodes, restricting the practical application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Here, Lactitol (LACT) serves as a multifunctional additive to stabilize Zn anodes. The hydroxyl groups of LACT strongly adsorb on the Zn anode, forming a uniform interfacial field that guides Zn²⁺ migration and suppresses dendrite growth. Concurrently, the adsorbed LACT layer blocks direct contact between water and Zn, mitigating corrosion, while its hydrogen-bond interactions with free water reduce water activity and inhibit the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In addition, LACT regulates the Zn²⁺ solvation sheath by replacing water ligands and lowering the nucleation energy barrier, thereby accelerating deposition kinetics and enhancing rate performance. Both theoretical calculations and experimental results consistently confirm these mechanisms. As a result, the Zn//Zn symmetric cell with the LACT/Zn(OTf)₂ electrolyte exhibited 3840 h of stable cycling at 0.5 mA cm^-2/0.5 mAh cm^-2, while Zn//AVO cell delivered an initial capacity of 256 mAh g^-1 and 76.40 % retention over 500 cycles at 2 A g^-1. Even at 10 A g^-1, the cell sustained 133 mAh g^-1 with 91.66 % retention after 2000 cycles. Overall, this study demonstrates a facile yet effective interfacial regulation strategy, offering valuable guidance for high-performance AZIBs.