Atomically Dispersed Cu in Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Nanoflake Array for Dendrite‐Free Zn Metal Anode

Abstract

Abstract Aqueous Zn metal batteries (AZMBs) have been considered as a promising alternative to the existing Li‐ion batteries. Nevertheless, the large‐scale application of the AZMBs is restricted by the dendrite formation and side reactions within the Zn metal anodes (ZMAs) during cycling. Herein, an atomically dispersed Cu in leaf‐like Zn‐coordinated zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐L) nanoflakes on Ti mesh (CuZIF‐L@TM) as ZMA host is developed. The 3D conductive network formed by the interconnected ZIF‐L nanoflakes can reduce the local current density and homogenize the electric field distribution. Moreover, experimental data and theoretical calculations reveal the Cu single atoms within the ZIF‐L can serve as the zincophilic sites to facilitate the Zn deposition. As expected, the CuZIF‐L@TM host enables a homogeneous Zn deposition on the surface without dendrites. The resultant CuZIF‐L@TM/Zn electrode shows stable Zn plating/stripping over 1100 h at 1 mA cm −2 with a low voltage hysteresis of about 50 mV. As a proof of concept, a full cell based on the designed CuZIF‐L@TM/Zn anode shows a stable cycling performance over 1000 cycles.