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Vol. 14 (2022)

Freestanding and Flexible Interfacial Layer Enables Bottom-Up Zn Deposition Toward Dendrite-Free Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00921-6
Hangjun Ying
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Pengfei Huang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Zhao Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Shunlong Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Qizhen Han
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Zhihao Zhang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Jianli Wang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China
Wei‑Qiang Han
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Wei‑Qiang Han

hanwq@zju.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 14 (2022), Article Number: 180

Abstract

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries are regarded as a competitive alternative to lithium-ion batteries because of their distinct advantages of high security, high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, deep-seated problems including Zn dendrite and adverse side reactions severely impede the practical application. In this work, we proposed a freestanding Zn-electrolyte interfacial layer composed of multicapsular carbon fibers (MCFs) to regulate the plating/stripping behavior of Zn anodes. The versatile MCFs protective layer can uniformize the electric field and Zn2+ flux, meanwhile, reduce the deposition overpotentials, leading to high-quality and rapid Zn deposition kinetics. Furthermore, the bottom-up and uniform deposition of Zn on the Zn-MCFs interface endows long-term and high-capacity plating. Accordingly, the Zn@MCFs symmetric batteries can keep working up to 1500 h with 5 mAh cm−2. The feasibility of the MCFs interfacial layer is also convinced in Zn@MCFs||MnO2 batteries. Remarkably, the Zn@MCFs||α-MnO2 batteries deliver a high specific capacity of 236.1 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 with excellent stability, and maintain an exhilarating energy density of 154.3 Wh kg−1 at 33% depth of discharge in pouch batteries.


Highlights:


1 Freestanding multicapsular carbon fibers (MCFs) cloth was synthesized by electrospinning and applied as interfacial layer to regulate the plating/stripping behavior of Zn anodes.
2 MCFs layer is supposed to uniformize the electric field and Zn2+ flux, and the moderate zincophilicity enables the bottom-up deposition of Zn on Zn@MCFs anode, thereby leading to high-quality and rapid Zn deposition kinetics.
3 Superior electrochemical performance of Zn@MCFs is achieved in symmetrical, asymmetrical and Zn||MnO2 batteries, including long cycling life, high coulombic efficiency and excellent rate performance.

Keywords

Aqueous zinc-ion battery Flexible interfacial layer Dendrite inhibition Bottom-up deposition Moderate zincophilicity
Ying, Hangjun, Pengfei Huang, Zhao Zhang, Shunlong Zhang, Qizhen Han, Zhihao Zhang, Jianli Wang, and Wei‑Qiang Han. 2022. “Freestanding and Flexible Interfacial Layer Enables Bottom-Up Zn Deposition Toward Dendrite-Free Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 14 (September):180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-022-00921-6.
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