Inhibiting dendrite growth of electrodeposited zinc via an applied capacitor

Abstract

• Dendrite growth of electrodeposited zinc is inhibited by an applied capacitor. • Zinc Morphologies can be controlled in the magnetic/flow fields. • Acting mechanism of capacitor on the depositing morphology is analyzed. Rapid growth of dendrites at high current densities is ubiquitous in the field of zinc electrodeposition, zinc ion batteries and zinc-air batteries, seriously affecting surface quality of depositing layer, electrode capacity and battery lifetime. Here, we propose a strategy of regulating ion transfer to inhibit the growth of zinc dendrites by means of an applied capacitor, investigating the effect of capacitance on morphologies of electrodeposited zinc in comparison to shape change in the magnetic field and flowing field. The results show that external physical fields can suppress the growth of zinc dendrites by reducing mass impedance of zinc ions, among which the capacitor can partially counteract the impact of internal electric field on zinc ions, magnetic field would change moving trajectory of the ions and the flowing field may increase transporting journey of the ions.