Realizing Textured Zinc Metal Anodes through Regulating Electrodeposition Current for Aqueous Zinc Batteries

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie Vol. 135; no. 10
• Main Authors: Yuan, Wentao, Nie, Xueyu, Ma, Guoqiang, Liu, Mengyu, Wang, Yuanyuan, Shen, Shigang, Zhang, Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Anodes; Aqueous electrolytes; Aqueous Zn Batteries; Aqueous Zn(CH3COO)2 Electrolyte; Cathodes; Chemistry; Copper; Crystallography; Electrodeposition; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Manganese; Nucleation; Side reactions; Substrates; Texture; Zinc; Zn Metal Anode
• ISSN: 0044-8249; 1521-3757
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202218386

Crystallography modulation of zinc (Zn) metal anode is promising to promote Zn reversibility in aqueous electrolytes, but efficiently constructing Zn with specific crystallographic texture remains challenging. Herein, we report a current‐controlled electrodeposition strategy to texture the Zn electrodeposits in conventional aqueous electrolytes. Using the electrolytic cell with low‐cost Zn(CH3COO)2 electrolyte and Cu substrate as a model system, the texture of as‐deposited Zn gradually transforms from (101) to (002) crystal plane as increasing the current density from 20 to 80 mA cm−2. Moreover, the high current accelerates the Zn nucleation rate with abundant nuclei, enabling uniform deposition. The (002) texture permits stronger resistance to dendrite growth and interfacial side reactions than the (101) texture. The resultant (002)‐textured Zn electrode achieves deep cycling stability and supports the stable operation of full batteries with conventional V/Mn‐based oxide cathodes. The (002) plane textured Zn metal is realized by using a current‐controlled electrodeposition strategy in a low‐cost Zn (CH3COO)2 aqueous electrolyte. Increasing the current density not only accelerates the Zn nucleation rate with abundant nuclei but also boosts the growth rate of (100) crystal plane, thus enabling the final exposure of (002) surface for Zn electrodeposits.