Grain boundary engineering enables (002)-textured zinc metal anodes with superior reversibility under ultra-high current density

Abstract

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for renewable energy storage due to their inherent safety and reliability. However, zinc anodes are plagued by parasitic reactions, particularly under high-current-density conditions, which impede their further development.Although a (002)-textured zinc anode generally enables promoted reversibility and stability, the high reactivity of its intergranular regions exacerbates parasitic reactions. Therefore, addressing intergranular issues is crucial for boosting the electrochemical performance of (002)-textured zinc anodes. Herein, a heat treatment strategy is proposed to induce a single (002)-textured phase while driving Bi to fill grain boundaries, thereby effectively suppressing intergranular corrosion.Benefiting from the synergistic effects of the highly stable (002) crystal facet and the grain boundary pinning induced by Bi, the resulting Zn(002)/Bi anode demonstrates exceptional cycling stability, achieving an ultra-long lifespan of 4800 h (~ 96,000 cycles) under a ultra-high current density of 40 mA cm -2 with a cumulative capacity of 96 Ah cm -2 . This work not only provides fundamental insights into the interfacial protection of zinc anodes but also paves the way for their practical application under high-current-density conditions.