Nucleobase Regulated Facet Engineering Enables Zinc(100) Oriented Growth for Long‐Life Zinc Anode under Combined Elevated Areal Capacity and Current Density

The extremely short cycling life of Zn-anode under combined high areal capacity and current density remains a key barrier to the large-scale AZIB deployment. Herein, it is experimentally and theoretically demonstrated that adenine, a multirole zincophilic biomolecular electrolyte additive, outperforms other nucleobases, promoting Zn deposition toward (100) plane, notably enhancing cycling stability under simultaneous ultrahigh areal capacity and current density. Owing to its multiple nitrogen atoms with varying basicity, adenine engages in multifaceted interactions, including coordination with solvated Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions, adsorption on the Zn(002) plane, and H-bonding with both solvated and bulk water molecules. These synergistic interactions passivate the thermodynamically stable Zn(002) plane, suppress interfacial water-induced HER and byproduct formation, and promote dendrite-free Zn deposition along the high-energy (100) plane. The resulting crystallographic regulation results in long-cycle-life Zn stripping/plating even under practically demanding harsh conditions of ultrahigh areal capacity and current density. In an adenine-boosted Zn||Zn symmetric cell achieves a cycle-life of 1060 h under combined conditions of 40 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> and 40 mAh cm<sup>-2</sup> and a record cumulative capacity of 42400 mAh cm<sup>-2</sup>. Current findings highlight the potential of zincophilic biomolecular additive design principles in overcoming key interfacial challenges, enabling a distinctive, environmentally benign pathway toward realizing large-scale AZIB development.

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Small
Published
2025-10-08
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202508779
Primary Topic
Advanced battery technologies research
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article
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article

Nucleobase Regulated Facet Engineering Enables Zinc(100) Oriented Growth for Long‐Life Zinc Anode under Combined Elevated Areal Capacity and Current Density

Gaurav Jhaa, Sourav Kumar Sarkar, Gugulothu Rambabu, Ashish Kumar Maharana et al.
Small
Advanced battery technologies research
article

Nucleobase Regulated Facet Engineering Enables Zinc(100) Oriented Growth for Long‐Life Zinc Anode under Combined Elevated Areal Capacity and Current Density

Gaurav Jhaa, Sourav Kumar Sarkar, Gugulothu Rambabu, Ashish Kumar Maharana, Gopal K. Pradhan, Sandip Paul, Sanjib Thakuria, Sanjib Das, Bibek Dash, Rahul Sarkar, Monalisa Pradhan
article en

Abstract

The extremely short cycling life of Zn-anode under combined high areal capacity and current density remains a key barrier to the large-scale AZIB deployment. Herein, it is experimentally and theoretically demonstrated that adenine, a multirole zincophilic biomolecular electrolyte additive, outperforms other nucleobases, promoting Zn deposition toward (100) plane, notably enhancing cycling stability under simultaneous ultrahigh areal capacity and current density. Owing to its multiple nitrogen atoms with varying basicity, adenine engages in multifaceted interactions, including coordination with solvated Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions, adsorption on the Zn(002) plane, and H-bonding with both solvated and bulk water molecules. These synergistic interactions passivate the thermodynamically stable Zn(002) plane, suppress interfacial water-induced HER and byproduct formation, and promote dendrite-free Zn deposition along the high-energy (100) plane. The resulting crystallographic regulation results in long-cycle-life Zn stripping/plating even under practically demanding harsh conditions of ultrahigh areal capacity and current density. In an adenine-boosted Zn||Zn symmetric cell achieves a cycle-life of 1060 h under combined conditions of 40 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> and 40 mAh cm<sup>-2</sup> and a record cumulative capacity of 42400 mAh cm<sup>-2</sup>. Current findings highlight the potential of zincophilic biomolecular additive design principles in overcoming key interfacial challenges, enabling a distinctive, environmentally benign pathway toward realizing large-scale AZIB development.

SmallVol. 21(48)
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IN), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IN), Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IN), KIIT University (IN), Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Advanced battery technologies research
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