Construction of ultrastable and high-rate performance zinc anode with three-dimensional porous structure and Schottky contact

The artificial interface layer on the Zn anode can effectively suppress by-product formation and dendrite growth, playing a crucial role in achieving high-rate and long-life aqueous zinc-ion batteries. However, the current galvanizing mode, where plating occurs separately below or inside the interface layer after its introduction, poses risks of detachment or swelling during cycling, limiting practical applications. In this study, we fabricate a three-dimensional porous NiO interface layer with enhanced anode dynamics that forms a Schottky contact with the zinc substrate. Through the synergistic effect of this excellent structure and Schottky barrier, zinc is rapidly and uniformly plated both inside and below the interface layer simultaneously. Symmetrical cells based on NiO@Zn exhibit exceptional stability over 10,000 cycles at an ultrahigh current density of 20 mA cm-2. Furthermore, NiO@Zn||MnO2 full cells deliver a capacity of 228 mAh g-1 and retain 94% of their initial capacities for 500 cycles at a density of 1 A g-1. This work not only presents highly reversible zinc anodes but also proposes an innovative galvanizing model.

Automated summary

In this study, a three-dimensional porous NiO interface layer with enhanced anode dynamics is fabricated, forming a Schottky contact with the zinc substrate, allowing rapid and uniform zinc plating both inside and below the interface layer. The resulting NiO@Zn exhibits exceptional stability and high capacity retention.