An in situ reduction strategy toward dendrite-free Zn anodes

Abstract

Combining three-dimensional (3D) current collectors and zincophilic species is considered an efficient way to construct highly stable Zn metal anodes. Unfortunately, costly and complex preparation processes impede their practical application. Herein, a dendrite-free 3D Zn metal composite anode (Zn@ACC-600@Cu 2+ ) has been rationally designed by plating Zn on a Cu 2+ -coordinated carbon cloth current collector (ACC-600@Cu 2+ ). In particular, during the Zn nucleation process, Cu 2+ is reduced in situ to metallic Cu and then forms a zincophilic Cu-Zn alloy with further Zn deposition. Density functional theory calculations and experimental observations reveal that the Cu-Zn alloy interface can not only act as a zincophilic deposition site for Zn ions but also enhance the conductivity to homogenize the electric field and Zn 2+ flux. Thus, the ACC-600@Cu 2+ host enables the high reversibility of Zn plating/stripping and long cycling stability for more than 410 h with a low-voltage hysteresis of 15.8 mV. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, the assembled Zn@ACC-600@Cu 2+ ||MnO 2 full batteries show a decent rate capability and a substantially enhanced specific capacity of 110 mA h g −1 compared with the pristine carbon cloth-based full cells. This in situ reduction strategy establishes a facile method for designing 3D Zn metal composite anodes that advances the development of dendrite-free and durable Zn metal batteries.

Functionalization design of zinc anode for advanced aqueous zinc‐ion batteries

“…Thereinto, the functionalization strategy for zinc anode encompasses the reshaping of the electrode structure, 42 zinc alloying, 43 and interface modifications, 44 among others. Within AZIBs, a functionalized zinc anode can effectively mitigate dendrite formation and curtail side reactions.…”

Construction of a redox pathway through a polyoxometalate and covalent organic framework for H2O2 photosynthesis

“…2e), which is consistent with the results of PL spectra and EIS. 28 Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra (Fig. 2f) show that BW 12 @PC-250 displays the longest electron life, which can increase the possibility of electrons being involved in the ORR.…”