Spontaneous Formation of a Zincphilic Ag Interphase for Dendrite-Free and Corrosion-Resistant Zinc Metal Anodes

The remarkable advantages of zinc anodes render aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) a highly promising energy storage solution. Nevertheless, the uncontrolled growth of zinc dendrites and side reactions pose significant obstacles to the practical application of ZIBs. To address these issues, a straightforward strategy has been proposed, involving the addition of a minute quantity of AgNO3 to the electrolyte to stabilize zinc anodes. This additive spontaneously forms a hierarchically porous Ag interphase on the zinc anodes, which is characterized by its zinc-affinitive nature. The interphase offers abundant zinc nucleation sites and accommodation space, leading to uniform zinc plating/stripping and enhanced kinetics of zinc deposition/dissolution. Moreover, the chemically inert Ag interphase effectively curtails side reactions by isolating water molecules. Consequently, the incorporation of AgNO3 enables zinc anodes to undergo cycling for extended periods, such as over 4000 h at a current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 with a capacity of 0.5 mAh/cm2, and for 450 h at 2 mA/cm2 with a capacity of 2 mAh/cm2. Full zinc-ion cells equipped with this additive not only demonstrate increased specific capacities but also exhibit significantly improved cycle stability. This research presents a cost-effective and practical approach for the development of reliable zinc anodes for ZIBs.