Insight into the Critical Role of Surface Hydrophilicity for Dendrite-Free Zinc Metal Anodes

Abstract

Chronic problems of zinc (Zn) metal anodes, such as notorious zinc dendrite growth and continuous side and corrosion reactions, hamper the commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Herein, we have demonstrated the significance of surface properties of Zn anodes for suppressing parasitic side reactions and zinc dendrite growth. On the basis of the findings, we have successfully stabilized Zn anodes by building a thin and hydrophilic artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer via a simple dip-coating method. The artificial SEI layer effectively inhibits the parasitic side reactions and guarantees uniform Zn stripping/plating for dendrite-free Zn anodes. As a result, durable cycle stability (3000 cycles at 1 A g–1) is achieved. More importantly, the artificial SEI layer is easily adapted for enlarged Zn anodes (176 cm2) and highly stable cell operation is observed. This strategy can provide a more practical path and significant advances for developing aqueous ZIBs for large-scale ESSs.