Uniformly dispersed zincophilic Cu sites on copper mesh enable a dendrite-free Zn metal anode

Abstract

The construction of a 3D matrix has emerged as a particularly effective solution for regulating Zn plating and stripping in aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs). However, the current 3D matrix exhibits high nucleation barriers and limited ion diffusion, leading to the aggregation of metal deposits and non-uniform Zn deposition. Herein, we report a facile strategy to construct Cu₂O nanoparticle-modified commercial copper mesh (Cu₂O/CM) as a high-performance current collector for zinc deposition. The three-dimensional structure of the copper mesh provides excellent mechanical properties and a stable substrate for zinc deposition and stripping. Cu₂O nanoparticles enhance the specific surface area and improve the electrode–electrolyte interface. During the initial electrochemical process, Cu₂O undergoes an irreversible phase transition, reducing to Cu particles with high zincophilicity. This transformation creates uniformly distributed zinc nucleation sites, reduces interfacial current density, and promotes uniform Zn²⁺ deposition, effectively suppressing dendrite growth. As a result, symmetrical cells assembled with prepared matrices demonstrates outstanding cycling stability, maintaining 700 hours of stable cycling at 1 mA cm⁻² with an areal capacity of 1 mA h cm⁻². This work provides a promising strategy to address the limitations of zinc metal anodes and advance the development of next-generation aqueous batteries.