High ionic conductive protection layer on Zn metal anode for enhanced aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) has been regarded as a promising energy storage system for large-scale application due to the advantages of low cost and high safety. However, the growth of Zn dendrite, hydrogen evolution and passivation issues induce the poor electrochemical performance of ZIBs. Herein, a Na 3 Zr 2 Si 2 PO 12 (NZSP) protection layer with high ionic conductivity of 2.94 mS/cm on Zn metal anode was fabricated by drop casting approach. The protection layer prevents Zn dendrites formation, hydrogen evolution as well as passivation, and facilitates a fast Zn 2 + transport. As a result, the symmetric cells based on NZSP-coated Zn show a stable cycling over 1360 h at 0.5 mA/cm 2 with 0.5 mAh/cm 2 and 10 0 0 h even at a high current density of 5 mA/cm 2 with 2 mAh/cm 2 . Moreover, the full cells combined with V 2 O 5 based cathode displays high capacities and high rate capability. This work offers a facile and effective approach to stabilizing Zn metal anode for enhanced ZIBs. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.