Dynamic electrostatic shielding enables (101)-plane preferred deposition for durable aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) suffer from dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions due to uneven interfacial ion flux and high water activity. Herein, we propose a dynamic electrostatic shielding strategy by employing amine/carboxyl-rich carbon quantum dots (FNCQDs) as a mild, low-resistance multifunctional electrolyte additive. Through integrated experimental and theoretical analyses, we reveal that negatively charged carboxyl groups (-COO^-) generate a long-range electrostatic repulsion field that homogenizes the Zn²⁺ flux, while amine groups (-NH₂) serve as specific anchoring sites via Zn - N coordination to capture Zn²⁺ and catalyze desolvation. In this optimized microenvironment, zinc deposition spontaneously favors the (101) crystal plane, enabling dense, low-polarization growth. The spatial steering and chemical trapping synergy is further reinforced by bulk electrolyte restructuring: FNCQDs modulate the solvation sheath and hydrogen-bond network, effectively suppressing water activity and parasitic reactions. Consequently, with FNCQDs-containing electrolyte, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell achieves an ultra-long cycle life exceeding 3700 h, the Zn//Cu half-cell delivers a high average coulombic efficiency of 99.9%, and the zinc utilization efficiency exceeds 95.6%. Moreover, the Zn//VO₂ full cell exhibits outstanding rate capability and a capacity retention of 93.6% over 1500 cycles at 5 A g^-1. This work establishes a dynamic electrostatic shielding paradigm for reversible metal anodes, paving a new avenue toward practical aqueous zinc-based energy storage systems.