Dual regulation of interface and bulk phase by a multifunctional additive for constructing stable zinc–sulfur batteries

Abstract

This work employs polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive. On one hand, PVP molecules, with their highly electronegative carbonyl groups, spontaneously adsorb onto the Zn anode surface to form a selective protective film. This film inhibits corrosion from reactive species and enables homogeneous Zn plating/stripping. On the other hand, PVP disrupts the native “micelle-like” solvation sheath of Zn²⁺, thereby achieving fast desolvation kinetics. This concurrent regulation of both interface and bulk phase presents a promising direction for Zinc–Sulfur Batteries.