Innovative synergistic control of electric fields and Zn2+ dynamics for revolutionizing zinc metal battery stability

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging as promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their inherent safety, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, their widespread application is hindered by challenges such as dendritic Zn growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion-induced passivation, which compromise performance and scalability. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a novel dual-interface modified zinc anode by integrating a zinc fluoride (ZnF₂)-silicon (Si) interface using fluorine-doped silicon nanoparticles encapsulated within hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres (F-Si@HMCS). The in situ formation of a ZnF₂ layer provides high electrochemical stability, effectively suppressing dendrite formation, mitigating zinc corrosion, and reducing side reactions with the electrolyte. The silica layer further facilitates uniform Zn electrodeposition by forming Si–O–Zn bonds, which regulate electric field distribution and lower nucleation energy barriers. Additionally, the hollow mesoporous carbon structure facilitates efficient ion transport and acts as a buffer against volume changes during cycling. Consequently, the F-Si@HMCS@Zn electrode exhibits a long lifespan of over 2500 h at 5 mA cm⁻² with a capacity of 0.5 mA h cm⁻² in a symmetrical cell test. When coupled with α-MnO₂ cathodes, the resulting ZIBs exhibit outstanding stable cycle life over 2000 cycles at 2 A g⁻¹.