Surface Engineering on Zinc Anode for Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

The application of Zn anode in aqueous batteries is hindered by dendrites, hydrogen evolution reactions, and by-products deposition. To address these issuses, the suface passivation is developed in the past years. This review discusses the underlying fundaments briefly and updates the latest progresses in details. At the end, the the challenges and prospects in this field are presented.

Abstract

Rechargeable aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) are considered as a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. However, the Zn anodes in AZMBs face severe challenges, such as dendrite growth, metal corrosion, and hydrogen evolution, all of which are closely related to the Zn/electrolyte interface. This article offers a short review on surface passivation to alleviate the issues on the Zn anodes. The composition and structure of the surface layers significantly influence their functions and then the performance of the Zn anodes. The recent progresses are introduced, according to the chemical components of the passivation layers on the Zn anodes. Moreover, the challenges and prospects of surface passivation in stabilizing Zn anodes are discussed, providing valuable guidance for the development of AZMBs.

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