“…The construction of a protective layer or buffer coating is recognized as an effective strategy to stabilize Zn metal anodes as well as to adjust the electrode/electrolyte interface chemistry It prevents side reactions arising from direct contact between fresh Zn and the electrolyte and induces a uniform charge distribution, contributing to controlled nucleation sites for Zn 2+ , thus greatly inhibiting corrosion reactions and dendrite growth in the cycle. 14,15 Examples include the natural construction of gradient ZnF 2 layers on Zn surfaces to achieve uniform Zn 2+ stripping/plating and improve zinc reversibility, 16 fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous ZnO structures (Zn@ZnO-3D) on Zn to accelerate the kinetics of Zn 2+ transfer and deposition, formation of artificial solid-electrolyte interfaces of nano-MOFs (ZIF-8) to improve zinc plating/stripping behaviour reversibility, 17 and introduction of some conductive nanoshells 18 to alleviate Zn corrosion and help mitigate dendritic growth and side reactions. In this respect, polymer coatings have an advantage over inorganic coatings, which have zincophilic properties that facilitate homogeneous nucleation and deposition of zinc.…”