Biomimetic\nInorganic–Organic Protective Layer\nfor Highly Stable and Reversible Zn Anodes

Uncontrollable dendrite growth and severe parasitic side\nreactions\non Zn electrodes pose formidable challenges for the application of\naqueous Zn-ion batteries. Herein, we engineered a biomimetic inorganic–organic\nprotective layer composed of alginic acid and lithium magnesium silicate\nto enhance the stability and reversibility of the Zn electrode. This\nprotective layer not only diminishes free water concentration near\nZn surface but also creates negatively charged ion microchannels to\ntransport Zn ions and modulate the solvation structure. Moreover,\na robust Mg-SiO<sub>2</sub> interphase with high Young’s modulus\nand strong zincophilicity can be formed between the Zn electrode and\nthe protective layer, facilitating uniform Zn deposition along Zn(002)\nplanes. Consequently, this protective layer allows the Zn electrodes\nto achieve impressive cycling lifespan of 5500 h at 1 mA cm<sup>–2</sup>/1 mAh cm<sup>–2</sup> with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.5%\nand delivers a remarkable cyclability of up to 8000 cycles in Zn||V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> full cells.