Synchronously Tuning Crystal Facets and Constructing a Multifunctional Interface toward a High-Performance Zn Anode

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for safe energy storage but suffer from zinc dendrite growth and byproduct accumulation.
• These issues limit their practical application and cycle life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a strategy for tuning zinc electrode crystal facets and fabricating a protective interface for enhanced AZIB performance.
• To investigate the role of a multifunctional protective layer (MPL) in improving zinc deposition and battery stability.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing alkali corrosion to modify the crystal facets of zinc electrodes, favoring the (002) plane over the (101) plane.
• Fabricating a protective interface layer composed of coordination polymers and inorganic zinc compounds.
• Characterizing the MPL's properties, including zincophilicity, mechanical robustness, and corrosion resistance.

Main Results:

• The engineered MPL effectively inhibited dendrite formation and promoted uniform zinc deposition.
• Symmetric AZIB cells with Zn@MPL demonstrated exceptional cycling stability (>5000 h) and rate performance.
• Full cells using Zn@MPL and MnO2 exhibited a 24-fold increase in cycling lifespan compared to bare zinc cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed alkali corrosion strategy and MPL are effective in addressing key challenges in AZIBs.
• This approach offers new insights for designing safe and stable aqueous zinc-ion batteries.
• The engineered zinc electrode shows significant potential for practical energy storage applications.