Superhydrophobic and robust hetero-metal-polymer hybrid interphase enables deep-cycling zinc metal anodes

Abstract

Realizing stable zinc (Zn) metal anodes under deep cycling conditions is a prerequisite for practical rechargeable Zn batteries, but it remains a significant challenge due to severe water erosion and dendrite growth on Zn. Herein, a robust hetero-metal-polymer hybrid interphase composed of Pb nanoparticles embedded on the polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) matrix is integrated on the Zn anode in situ by a one-step chemical displacement reaction to tackle these dilemmas. This concept can be readily extended to construct Bi-PVDF and Sn-PVDF hybrid interphases on Zn. Unlike the commonly developed hydrophilic and thick metal-based interphases, the superhydrophobic, thin, and seamless Pb-PVDF interphase, as a model example, can prevent water access to the Zn surface and exhibit an ultralow H2 evolution reaction potential, thus avoiding water-induced side reactions. Moreover, the flexible Pb-PVDF hybrid interphase with strong zincophilicity enables the dendrite-free and epitaxial Zn deposition. Consequently, the Pb-PVDF@Zn electrode manifests an ultralong lifespan over 8100 h (0.5 mA h cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2) and unprecedented deep cycling stability under 85.3% depth-of-discharge over 800 h (10 mA h cm−2 at 20 mA cm−2), which is a 160-fold elongation of lifespan compared with that of a bare Zn electrode. Moreover, Pb-PVDF@Zn assures the stable operation of full Zn batteries with conventional V/Mn-oxide cathodes using both coin and pouch configurations.

Graphical abstract: Superhydrophobic and robust hetero-metal-polymer hybrid interphase enables deep-cycling zinc metal anodes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Sep 2024
Accepted
30 Oct 2024
First published
05 Nov 2024

Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Advance Article

Superhydrophobic and robust hetero-metal-polymer hybrid interphase enables deep-cycling zinc metal anodes

M. Liu, W. Yuan, X. Qu, X. Ru, X. Li, T. Wang, X. Wang, Y. Wang, Y. Liu and N. Zhang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4EE04122D

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