Constructing a Quasi-Liquid Interphase to Enable Highly Stable Zn-Metal Anode

Abstract

Rechargeable aqueous Zn-metal batteries have attracted widespread attention owing to their safety and low cost beyond Li-metal batteries. However, due to the lack of the solid electrolyte interphase, problems such as dendrites, side reactions and hydrogen generation severely restrict their commercial applications. Herein, a quasi-liquid interphase (QLI) with a “solid–liquid” property is constructed to stabilize the Zn-metal anode. The synergistic effect of solid and liquid behavior ensures the stable existence of QLI and simultaneously enables the interphase dynamic and self-adaptive to the anode evolution. Electrolyte erosion, Zn2+ diffusion and side reactions are inhibited during long-term cycling after introducing QLI, significantly improving the cycling stability and capacity retention of the symmetric and full cells modified with QLI (Zn@QLI), respectively. Constructing an interphase with a quasi-liquid state represents a promising strategy to stabilize the metal anodes in aqueous electrolytes and even extend to organic electrolytes.