%0 Journal Article
%T Surface Patterning of Metal Zinc Electrode with an In-Region Zincophilic Interface for High-Rate and Long-Cycle-Life Zinc Metal Anode.
%A Wang T
%A Xi Q
%A Yao K
%A Liu Y
%A Fu H
%A Kavarthapu VS
%A Lee JK
%A Tang S
%A Fattakhova-Rohlfing D
%A Ai W
%A Yu JS
%J Nanomicro Lett
%V 16
%N 1
%D 2024 Feb 9
%M 38334816
%F 23.655
%R 10.1007/s40820-024-01327-2
%X The undesirable dendrite growth induced by non-planar zinc (Zn) deposition and low Coulombic efficiency resulting from severe side reactions have been long-standing challenges for metallic Zn anodes and substantially impede the practical application of rechargeable aqueous Zn metal batteries (ZMBs). Herein, we present a strategy for achieving a high-rate and long-cycle-life Zn metal anode by patterning Zn foil surfaces and endowing a Zn-Indium (Zn-In) interface in the microchannels. The accumulation of electrons in the microchannel and the zincophilicity of the Zn-In interface promote preferential heteroepitaxial Zn deposition in the microchannel region and enhance the tolerance of the electrode at high current densities. Meanwhile, electron aggregation accelerates the dissolution of non-(002) plane Zn atoms on the array surface, thereby directing the subsequent homoepitaxial Zn deposition on the array surface. Consequently, the planar dendrite-free Zn deposition and long-term cycling stability are achieved (5,050 h at 10.0 mA cm-2 and 27,000 cycles at 20.0 mA cm-2). Furthermore, a Zn/I2 full cell assembled by pairing with such an anode can maintain good stability for 3,500 cycles at 5.0 C, demonstrating the application potential of the as-prepared ZnIn anode for high-performance aqueous ZMBs.