Dynamic‐Static Shielding via 2‐Methylimidazole and Na ⁺ Dual‐Functional Additives Enables Highly Stable Zinc Metal Anodes

ABSTRACT The practical deployment of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is impeded by irreversible dendritic growth and parasitic interfacial reactions. Here, we report a dynamic‐static shielding strategy that employs trace amounts of 2‐methylimidazole (2H‐MZ) and Na + as dual‐functional additives. 2H‐MZ spontaneously adsorbs onto the Zn (002) plane, forming a hydrophobic barrier that excludes water and suppresses hydrogen evolution, while the low reduction potential of Na + offers electrostatic shielding, which helps to homogenize the Zn 2+ flux and reduce concentration polarization. Notably, 2H‐MZ modulates the electrolyte's H‐bond network and weakens Zn 2+ ‐H 2 O binding without entering the primary solvation shell, thereby accelerating Zn 2+ transport. The resulting interfacial synergy facilitates highly oriented (002) plating and stabilizes anions. Consequently, Zn||Zn symmetric cells exhibit stable cycling for over 650 h at 5 mA cm −2 /5 mAh cm −2 , and Zn||Cu cells achieve an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.29% over 750 cycles. Full Zn||I 2 cells retain > 90% capacity after 2400 cycles at 5 A g −1 , while a flexible pouch cell maintains 81.1% capacity after 250 cycles. This work demonstrates a low‐concentration, non‐consumptive dual‐additive design that combines physical adsorption and cation shielding, offering a new avenue for durable zinc anodes.