Hexagonal Porous Zincophilic Alloy Interface for Ultrastable Zinc Metal Anode

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Zinc metal anodes (ZMAs) face challenges like dendritic growth and hydrogen evolution, limiting battery cycling stability.
• Uniform electric field distribution and corrosion resistance are critical for efficient ZMA performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a protected zinc anode with enhanced cycling stability and corrosion resistance.
• To investigate the mechanisms behind dendrite suppression and improved ion flux in the modified anode.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hexagonal porous zinc-tin (ZnSn) alloy layer on a zinc anode via electrochemical etching and elemental substitution (SC@ZnSn).
• Electrochemical characterization including cycling stability tests in asymmetric cells and full cell performance evaluation (SC@ZnSn||I2).

Main Results:

• The SC@ZnSn anode achieved remarkable cycling stability with 99.6% average Coulombic efficiency over 1800 cycles.
• The hexagonal porous structure and ZnSn alloy surface promoted uniform Zn2+ flux and lowered nucleation barriers, suppressing dendrite growth.
• The SC@ZnSn||I2 full cell demonstrated over 4000 cycles of stable operation at 1 A g-1 with high capacity retention.

Conclusions:

• The SC@ZnSn anode offers a promising strategy for achieving high-performance and durable zinc-based batteries.
• The synergistic effects of the porous framework and zincophilic alloy are key to suppressing dendrites and ensuring long-term reversibility.