A Corrosion‐Resistant and Dendrite‐Free Zinc Metal Anode in Aqueous Systems

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 16; no. 29; pp. e2001736 - n/a
• Main Authors: Han, Daliang, Wu, Shichao, Zhang, Siwei, Deng, Yaqian, Cui, Changjun, Zhang, Lina, Long, Yu, Li, Huan, Tao, Ying, Weng, Zhe, Yang, Quan‐Hong, Kang, Feiyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-07-2020
• Subjects: Anodes; Corrosion; Corrosion inhibitors; Corrosion resistance; Dendritic structure; Energy storage; indium; Nanotechnology; nucleating agents; Storage systems; Zinc; zinc ion batteries; zinc ion capacitors
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202001736

Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn) ion‐based energy storage systems have been reviving recently because of their low cost and high safety merits; however, they still suffer from the problems of corrosion and dendrite growth on Zn metal anodes that cause gas generation and early battery failure. Unfortunately, the corrosion problem has not received sufficient attention until now. Here, it is pioneeringly demonstrated that decorating the Zn surface with a dual‐functional metallic indium (In) layer, acting as both a corrosion inhibitor and a nucleating agent, is a facile but effective strategy to suppress both drastic corrosion and dendrite growth. Symmetric cells assembled with the treated Zn electrodes can sustain up to 1500 h of plating/stripping cycles with an ultralow voltage hysteresis (54 mV), and a 5000 cycle‐life is achieved for a prototype full cell. This work will instigate the further development of aqueous metal‐based energy storage systems.
A dual‐functional metallic In layer is in situ decorated on the Zn anode surface, acting as both a corrosion inhibitor and a nucleating agent, to suppress both drastic corrosion and dendrite growth. Symmetric cells assembled with the treated Zn electrodes can sustain up to 1500 h of plating/stripping cycles with an ultralow voltage hysteresis (54 mV).