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Updated: Oct 25, 2026

Zinc-Sponge Battery Electrodes that Suppress Dendrites
Published on: September 29, 2020
Near-Theoretical-Density Zinc Plating Enabled by an Ordered Janus Interphase for High-Energy Zinc Pouch Cells
Fengxue Duan1, Junjie Ba1, Mengqi Wu1
1Key Laboratory of Physics and Technology for Advanced Batteries (Ministry of Education), College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
Abstract:
Achieving ultradense zinc plating at the theoretical limit is crucial for high-energy aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs), but is hindered by severe interfacial instabilities such as dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution. Here we construct a nanometer-thin, vertically stratified organic-inorganic Janus bilayer (CF-LaF3) by ion layer epitaxy to pre-engineer the zinc anode interface. A hydrophobic perfluoroalkyl top layer accelerates Zn2+ desolvation, blocks active water and suppresses parasitic reactions, while a crystalline LaF3 bottom layer with high modulus, zincophilicity and continuous ionic channels homogenizes Zn2+ flux and helps mechanically suppress dendritic growth. This complementary interphase delivers dendrite-free zinc deposition at 5 mAh cm-2 with an ultradense thickness of 8.60 μm, approaching the theoretical limit (8.54 μm). Ah-level Zn||I2 pouch cells achieve 109 Wh L-1 energy density on a full-cell basis. This pre-engineered Janus interphase offers a general and scalable route to practical high-energy AZMBs.
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