Self-repairing interphase reconstructed in each cycle for highly reversible aqueous zinc batteries

Aqueous zinc (Zn) chemistry features intrinsic safety, but suffers from severe irreversibility, as exemplified by low Coulombic efficiency, sustained water consumption and dendrite growth, which hampers practical applications of rechargeable Zn batteries. Herein, we report a highly reversible aqueous Zn battery in which the graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots additive serves as fast colloid ion carriers and assists the construction of a dynamic & self-repairing protective interphase. This real-time assembled interphase enables an ion-sieving effect and is found actively regenerate in each battery cycle, in effect endowing the system with single Zn2+ conduction and constant conformal integrality, executing timely adaption of Zn deposition, thus retaining sustainable long-term protective effect. In consequence, dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping at similar to 99.6% Coulombic efficiency for 200 cycles, steady charge-discharge for 1200 h, and impressive cyclability (61.2% retention for 500 cycles in a Zn parallel to MnO2 full battery, 73.2% retention for 500 cycles in a Zn parallel to V2O5 full battery and 93.5% retention for 3000 cycles in a Zn parallel to VOPO4 full battery) are achieved, which defines a general pathway to challenge Lithium in all low-cost, large-scale applications.

Automated summary

This study reports a highly reversible aqueous zinc battery with a dynamic and self-repairing protective interphase formed by the addition of graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots. The system exhibits single Zn2+ conduction, dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping, and impressive cyclability, making it a promising alternative to lithium batteries in low-cost, large-scale applications.