Toward a Practical Zn Powder Anode: Ti3C2Tx MXene as a Lattice-Match Electrons/Ions Redistributor

The renaissance of aqueous Zn ion batteries has drawn intense attention to Zn metal anode issues, including dendrites growth, dead Zn, low efficiency, and other parasitic reactions. However, against the widely used 2D Zn foil, in fact, the Zn powder anode is a more practical choice for Zn-based batteries in industrial applications, but the related solutions are rarely investigated. Herein, we focus on the Zn powder anode and disclose its unknown failure mechanism different from Zn foils. By utilization of 2D flexible conductive Ti(3)C(2)Tx MXene flakes with hexagonal close-packed lattice as electrons and ions redistributor, a stable and highly reversible Zn powder anode without dendrite growth and low polarization is constructed. Low lattice mismatch (similar to 10%) enables a coherent heterogeneous interface between the (0002) plane of deposited Zn and (0002) plane of the Ti(3)C(2)Tx MXene. Thus, the Zn2+ ions are induced to undergo rapid uniform nucleation and sustained reversible stripping/plating with low energy barriers via the internally bridged shuttle channels. Paired with cyano group iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF) cathode, the FeHCF//MXene@ Zn full battery delivers superior cycle durability and rate capability, whose service life with a CE of near 100% touches 850% of bare Zn powder counterparts. The proposed Ti(3)C(2)Tx MXene redistributor strategy concerning high-speed electrons/ions channel, low-barrier heterogeneous interface, is expected to be widely applied to other alkali metal anodes.

Automated summary

The study focuses on utilizing Ti(3)C(2)Tx MXene as a redistributor for zinc powder anodes, constructing a stable and highly reversible zinc powder anode to address dendrite growth and polarization issues, improving the cycle life and rate capability of zinc-based full batteries.