Zinc Surface Research Articles

Resilient and Reversible Phosphotungstic Acid Passivated Zinc Anode.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) present a compelling solution for grid-scale energy storage, which is crucial for integrating renewable energy resources into the electric infrastructure. The cycling stability of ZIBs hinges on the electrochemical reversibility of the zinc anode, which is often compromised by corrosion and dendritic zinc deposition. Here, we present a straightforward surface passivation strategy that significantly enhances the cycling stability of zinc anodes. By immersing zinc in a solution of phosphotungstic acid, we promoted the dominance of the 002 plane of zinc's hexagonal structure. This process facilitates the creation of a uniform nucleation and protective layer on the native zinc surface, resulting in a more uniform plating-stripping process and increased corrosion resistance. In symmetric cells, the passivated zinc exhibits a capacity retention of 68.7% after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1.0 Ag1-, whereas untreated zinc anodes retain only 7.4% of capacity under identical conditions. In full cell zinc iodine batteries employing the passivated zinc anode, over 1000 stable charge-discharge cycles were achieved at a current density of 20 mA cm-2, with approximately 96% Coulombic efficiency (CE), 86% voltage efficiency (VE), and 82% energy efficiency (EE). This study demonstrates a promising pathway for the construction and upscaling of flow batteries with high capacity and low cost.

Electro‐Ionic‐Field Regulation through Dipole Molecule Layer toward Dendrite‐Free Zinc Anode

AbstractZinc metal is a high‐capacity and cost‐effective anode material for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries, but its development is impeded by dendrite growth and interfacial side reactions. In this study, a unique dipole molecule (DPM) layer is constructed on a zinc surface via an in situ etching‐growth strategy to regulate the surface electric field and ion distribution. Theoretical calculations and experiments confirm that the asymmetrical charge distribution within the DPM layer can significantly remodel the electric field of the Zn anode surface. The zincophilic DPM layer accelerates the migration of zinc ions through ordered ion channels. Electro‐ionic field regulation via the DPM layer achieves dendrite‐free deposition and reduces the formation of byproducts. The DPM‐Zn symmetrical cells exhibit ultralow voltage hysteresis (≈ 24.2 mV), highly reversible zinc plating/stripping behavior, and stable cycling over 1700 h at 1 mA cm−2. The DPM‐Zn||MnO2 full cells exhibited a higher specific capacity and cycle stability than the bare Zn anode. This work verifies the feasibility of electro‐ionic‐field synergistic regulation for robust Zn anodes and provides new insights into the interface design of metal anodes.

Corrosion Resistance of Biodegradable Zinc Surfaces Enhanced by UV-Grafted Polydimethylsiloxane Coating.

Improved living conditions have led to an increase in life expectancy worldwide. However, as people age, the risk of vascular disease tends to increase due to the accumulation and buildup of plaque in arteries. Vascular stents are used to keep blood vessels open. Biodegradable stents are designed to provide a temporary support vessel that gradually degrades and is absorbed by the body, leaving behind healed blood vessels. However, biodegradable metals can suffer from reduced mechanical strength and/or inflammatory response, both of which can affect the rate of corrosion. Therefore, it is essential to achieve a controlled and predictable degradation rate. Here, we demonstrate that the corrosion resistance of biodegradable Zn surfaces is improved by electroless deposition of zinc hydroxystannate followed by UV-grafting with silicone oil (PDMS). Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respiratory kinetic measurements, and long-term immersion in three simulated body fluids were applied. Although zinc hydroxystannate improves the corrosion resistance of Zn to some extent, it introduces a high surface area with hydroxyl units used to UV-graft PDMS molecules. Our results demonstrate that hydrophobic PDMS causes a 3-fold reduction in corrosion of Zn-based materials in biological environments and reduces cytotoxicity through the uncontrolled release of Zn ions.

Chitosan-Surfactant Composite Nanocoatings on Glass and Zinc Surfaces Prepared from Aqueous Solutions.

Hydrophobic coatings from chitosan-surfactant composites (ca. 400 nm thick by UV-Vis spectroscopy) for possible corrosion protection were developed on glass and zinc substrates. The surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and SDBS) were added to the chitosan by two methods: mixing the surfactants with the aqueous chitosan solutions before film deposition or impregnating the deposited chitosan films with surfactants from their aqueous solutions. For the mixed coatings, it was found that the lower surface tension of solutions (40-45 mN/m) corresponded to more hydrophobic (80-90°) coatings in every case. The hydrophobicity of the impregnated coatings was especially significant (88° for SDS and 100° for SDBS). Atomic force microscopy studies revealed a slight increase in roughness (max 1.005) for the most hydrophobic coatings. The accumulation of surfactants in the layer was only significant (0.8-1.0 sulfur atomic %) in the impregnated samples according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polarization and electron impedance spectroscopy tests confirmed better barrier properties for these samples (40-50% pseudo-porosity instead of 94%). The degree of swelling in a water vapor atmosphere was significantly lower in the case of the impregnated coatings (ca. 25%) than that of the native ones (ca. 75%), measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Accordingly, good barrier layer properties require advantageous bulk properties in addition to surface hydrophobicity.

Dynamic Covalent Bonds Regulate Zinc Plating/Stripping Behaviors for High-Performance Zinc Ion Batteries.

Artificial interfaces provide a comprehensive approach to controlling zinc dendrite and surface corrosion in zinc-based aqueous batteries (ZABs). However, due to consistent volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, traditional interfacial layers cannot consistently adapt to the dendrite surface, resulting in uncontrolled dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution. Herein, dynamic covalent bonds exhibit the Janus effect towards zinc deposition at different current densities, presenting a holistic strategy for stabilizing zinc anode. The PBSC intelligent artificial interface consisting of dynamic B-O covalent bonds is developed on zinc anode to mitigate hydrogen evolution and restrict dendrite expansion. Owing to the reversible dynamic bonds, PBSC exhibits shape self-adaptive characteristics at low current rates, which rearranges the network to accommodate volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, resisting hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the rapid association of B-O dynamic bonds enhances mechanical strength at dendrite tips, presenting a shear-thickening effect and suppressing further dendrite growth at high current rates. Therefore, the assembled symmetrical battery with PBSC maintains a stable cycle of 4500 hours without significant performance degradation and the PBSC@Zn||V2O5 pouch cell demonstrates a specific capacity exceeding 170 mAh g-1. Overall, the intelligent interface with dynamic covalent bonds provides innovative approaches for zinc anode interfacial engineering and enhances cycling performance.

Dynamic Covalent Bonds Regulate Zinc Plating/Stripping Behaviors for High‐Performance Zinc Ion Batteries

AbstractArtificial interfaces provide a comprehensive approach to controlling zinc dendrite and surface corrosion in zinc‐based aqueous batteries (ZABs). However, due to consistent volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, traditional interfacial layers cannot consistently adapt to the dendrite surface, resulting in uncontrolled dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution. Herein, dynamic covalent bonds exhibit the Janus effect towards zinc deposition at different current densities, presenting a holistic strategy for stabilizing zinc anode. The PBSC intelligent artificial interface consisting of dynamic B−O covalent bonds is developed on zinc anode to mitigate hydrogen evolution and restrict dendrite expansion. Owing to the reversible dynamic bonds, PBSC exhibits shape self‐adaptive characteristics at low current rates, which rearranges the network to accommodate volume changes during zinc plating/stripping, resisting hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the rapid association of B−O dynamic bonds enhances mechanical strength at dendrite tips, presenting a shear‐thickening effect and suppressing further dendrite growth at high current rates. Therefore, the assembled symmetrical battery with PBSC maintains a stable cycle of 4500 hours without significant performance degradation and the PBSC@Zn||V2O5 pouch cell demonstrates a specific capacity exceeding 170 mAh g−1. Overall, the intelligent interface with dynamic covalent bonds provides innovative approaches for zinc anode interfacial engineering and enhances cycling performance.

Bili leaf extract: Green corrosion inhibitor for zinc in hydrochloric acid-experimental and theoretical study

The primary goal of this study was to examine whether Bili leaf extract (BLE) (Aegle marmelos leaf) could inhibit zinc corrosion in an acidic environment, specifically in 0.05–0.10 M HCl solutions. The corrosion rate was examined using PDP (Potentiodynamic Polarization), EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy), and weight loss techniques. The research attains notable inhibition efficiencies of 99.0 %, 83.4 %, and 78.95 % in weight loss, PDP, and EIS respectively, at a concentration of 2.0 g/L BLE and a temperature of 303 K. The influence of temperature (ranging from 303 to 333 K) on the corrosion behaviour was examined upon the addition of BLE. As the concentration of BLE increased, the corrosion rate(CR) of Zn decreased, and a similar reduction was observed with decreasing temperature. Adsorption of BLE onto the metal surface followed by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. The activation parameters of BLE and its negative Gibbs free energy indicate spontaneous adsorption rates. Tafel polarization measurements showed that BLE acts as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor, meaning it influences anodic and cathodic reactions. FT-IR spectroscopy is employed to determine the functional groups of BLE. Atomic Force Microscopy(AFM)/Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX)/Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the zinc surface verified a significant reduction in surface inhomogeneities when BLE was present. The quantum parameters obtained through DFT(Density Functional Theory)/MD (Molecular Dynamics) demonstrated excellent agreement with the experimental findings.

Interfacial Zn ion capture and desolvation engineering for high-performance Zn metal anode

The uneven surface of planar zinc (Zn) metal anodes fundamentally reduces the electrochemical reversibility of aqueous Zn metal batteries due to dendritic growth. Herein, an interphase protection layer engineering is formed on the surface of the Zn metal anode through a solution-processed coating method. This interesting carbon layer, composed of carbon nanoparticles obtained from outer flame-derived candle soot (OFCS), exhibits excellent Zn ion capturing and storage capabilities, effectively reducing the accumulation of charge density on the Zn metal surface, providing a homogeneous Zn ion flux and inducing even Zn metal deposition. The OFCS@Zn can promote the desolvation of [Zn(H2O)6]2+ through strong interaction with Zn ions, mitigating corrosion and hydrogen evolution reactions. The multifunctional integration of the OFCS layer synergistically induces uniform Zn metal plating and inhibits side reactions. Consequently, in the OFCS @Zn | OFCS @Zn symmetric-cell tests, high-rate performance and deep charge/discharge capabilities are demonstrated. The OFCS@Zn anode-based pouch cell exhibits a high discharge capacity of 156.2 mAh g-1 and maintains a significant capacity retention rate of 95.4 % for 200 cycles at the current density of 1 A g-1, indicating its potential for enhanced battery stability and efficiency.

Boosting zinc–manganese battery longevity: Fortifying zinc anodes with glutathione-induced protection layer

Aqueous Zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) stand out as highly promising candidates for next-generation large-scale energy storage, renowned for their exceptional cost-effectiveness and heightened safety features. Nevertheless, the substantial challenges of severe dendritic growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion on the Zn anode have significantly compromised the performance of AZIBs, imposing limitations on their broader application. In this context, we propose the utilization of reduced glutathione (GSH), which features plentiful polar functional groups, as a potent electrolyte additive to address these challenges. Experimental and theoretical analyses confirm that GSH not only modulates the solvation structure of Zn2+ to accelerate its desolvation process on the zinc surface but also preferentially adsorbs onto the Zn metal surface through its numerous polar groups, forming a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) to suppress corrosion and other side reactions. As a result, the Zn//Zn symmetric cell demonstrates a long cycle life of 1680 h, with an average Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.14 % and a cumulative plating capacity (CPC) of 1680 mAh·cm−2. Furthermore, the Zn//MnO2 full cell exhibits an impressive capacity retention of 91.3 % after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1, offering a new perspective on additive design for AZIBs.

Hydrated eutectic electrolyte promotes the preferential growth of Zn (0 0 2) plane and suppresses side reaction for high-stability zinc anodes

Using deep eutectic solvent (DES) electrolytes is an efficient way to suppress the Zn dendrite growth and the side reactions resulting from the high activity of H2O in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). However, most DESs consist of expensive/explosive zinc salts or flammable/toxic organic ligands, which hinders their practical application in ZIBs. Herein, a low-cost and high-safety hydrated eutectic electrolyte based on ZnCl2, urea, and a small amount of H2O is prepared. Due to the low content of H2O and the strong intermolecular interaction between urea and H2O, the activity of H2O is greatly restricted and therefore H2O-induced side reactions are improved. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra and density functional theory calculations reveal that the adsorption of urea molecules on the zinc surface forms an organic protective layer, which can induce the preferential growth of the Zn (0 0 2) plane. As a result, with the optimal electrolyte, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell shows a long cyclic life of 1200 h, and the Zn||Cu half-cell delivers a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7 % for 2500 cycles. Meanwhile, the Zn||Bi2Te3 and Zn||polyaniline full cells with DES exhibit improved cycling performances compared to those using traditional ZnSO4 electrolyte. This work offers a new perspective to explore low-cost, non-toxic, and high-security DESs for ZIBs.

A Macroscopic Interpretation of the Correlation between Electrical Percolation and Mechanical Properties of Poly-(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)/Zn Composites.

Elastic composites were prepared using a procedure involving hot plates and zinc powder that was directly dispersed into an EVA matrix. The correlation between the zinc content and the conductive properties of the material was studied via impedance spectroscopy, the thermal properties of the material were studied via differential calorimetry and the mechanical properties of the composites were studied via tensile strength curves, representing an important advancement in the characterization of this type of composite material. The composites' tensile strength and elongation at break decrease with the addition of filler since zinc particles act as stress-concentrating centres, while the composites' hardness and Young's modulus increase because of an increase in the stiffness of the material. The AC perturbation across the EVA/Zn composites was characterized using an RC parallel equivalent circuit that allowed us to easily measure their resistivity (ρp) and permittivity (εp). The dependence of these electrical magnitudes on the zinc content is correlated with their mechanical properties across the characteristic time constant τp = ρp·εp of this equivalent circuit. The dependence of the mechanical and electrical magnitudes on the zinc content is consistent with the formation of percolation clusters. The addition of graphite particles increases their potential performance. Three possible mechanisms for the electrical transport of the ac-perturbation across the EVA/Zn composites have been identified. Chemical corrosion in acid media causes the loss of zinc surface particles, but their bulk physical properties practically remain constant.

Surfactant-Dependent Partitioning of Organics in Aqueous-Organic Reaction Systems.

A fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) technique characterizes surfactant-dependent partitioning of organics in a system that mimics a Negishi-like cross-coupling reaction in water, under synthetic concentrations, with emulsion droplets. Experimental partitioning data were not predictable from simple hydrophilic-lipophilic balances. The ionic surfactant cetrimonium chloride suppressed the reactivity of the metallic zinc surface, presumably through competitive chloride binding and concurrent cetrimonium coating, a finding that may contribute to the reduced performance of ionic surfactants in the bench-scale coupling reaction.

Dual-Function Electrolyte Additive Design for Long Life Alkaline Zinc Flow Batteries.

Alkaline zinc-based flow batteries (AZFBs) have emerged as a promising electrochemical energy storage technology owing to Zn abundance, high safety, and low cost. However, zinc dendrite growth and the formation of dead zinc greatly impede the development of AZFBs. Herein, a dual-function electrolyte additive strategy is proposed to regulate zinc nucleation and mitigate the hydroxide corrosion of zinc depositions for stable AZFBs. This strategy, as exemplified by urea, introduces an electrolyte additive to coordinate with Zn2+/Zn with proper strength, slowing zinc deposition kinetics to induce uniform nucleation and protecting the deposited zinc surface from attack by hydroxide ions through preferable adsorption. The zincate complexes with urea are identified to be Zn(OH)2(urea)(H2O)2 and Zn2(OH)4(H2O)4(urea), which exhibit slow zinc deposition kinetics, allowing instantaneous nucleation. Calculation results reveal an additional energy barrier of 1.29eV for the subsequent adsorption of an OH- group when a urea molecule absorbs on the zinc cluster, significantly mitigating the formation of dead zinc. Consequently, prolonged cell cycling of the prototype alkaline zinc-iron flow battery demonstrates stable operation for over 130 h and an average coulombic efficiency of 98.5%. It is anticipated that this electrolyte additive strategy will pave the way for developing highly stable AZFBs.

Enhancing Zinc Electrode Stability Through Pre-Desolvation and Accelerated Charge Transfer via a Polyimide Interface for Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-based energy storage devices possess superior safety, cost-effectiveness, and high energy density; however, dendritic growth and side reactions on the zinc electrode curtail their widespread applications. In this study, these issues are mitigated by introducing a polyimide (PI) nanofabric interfacial layer onto the zinc substrate. Simulations reveal that the PI nanofabric promotes a pre-desolvation process, effectively desolvating hydrated zinc ions from Zn(H2O)6 2+ to Zn(H2O)4 2+ before approaching the zinc surface. The exposed zinc ion in Zn(H2O)4 2+ provides an accelerated charge transfer process and reduces the activation energy for zinc deposition from 40 to 21kJ mol-1. The PI nanofabric also acts as a protective barrier, reducing side reactions at the electrode. As a result, the PI-Zn symmetric cell exhibits remarkable cycling stability over 1200h, maintaining a dendrite-free morphology and minimal byproduct formation. Moreover, the cell exhibits high stability and low voltage hysteresis even under high current densities (20mA cm-2, 10 mAh cm-2) thanks to the 3D porous structure of PI nanofabric. When integrated into full cells, the PI-Zn||AC hybrid zinc-ion capacitor and PI-Zn||MnVOH@SWCNT zinc-ion battery achieve impressive lifespans of 15000 and 600 cycles with outstanding capacitance retention. This approach paves a novel avenue for high-performance zinc metal electrodes.

Adsorption of single and mixed surfactants consisting of cocoamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) onto zinc surface

Abstract Aqueous solutions of surfactants exhibit remarkable differences in their adsorption properties on metal surfaces. This study evaluates the adsorption of surfactant mixtures on zinc metal surfaces. The adsorption of single surfactants cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) and their mixtures from aqueous solution at mole fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 on zinc powder at 25 °C was studied. The surface tension of the single and CAPB/SDBS surfactant mixtures was measured in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder to determine the adsorption isotherms. The depletion method was employed to carry out the adsorption investigation. The amount of the surfactant adsorbed was also calculated from the shaded area between the surface tension versus concentration curves of these surfactants in the presence and absence of 2 % zinc powder. The highest adsorbed amounts were found to increase with the SDBS content. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of zinc sheets in solutions containing single or mixed CAPB/SDBS surfactants were taken in the presence and absence of 0.05 M HCl. The micrographs indicated that the CAPB-SDBS surfactant layers formed by precipitation can protect zinc metal from acid corrosion.

Passivation of cold-sprayed zinc-coated steel bars in simulated concrete pore solution

Hot-dip galvanized coating is proved to be effective in preventing chloride ion induced corrosion on steel bars, however, highly-toxic substances generated during the plating process seriously pollute the surrounding environment. Cold-sprayed zinc as an environment-friendly technology is an alternative to the hot-dip galvanized technology, but it has not been applied to steel bars in the alkaline environment of concrete. This study first fabricated the cold-sprayed zinc-coated steel bars, and then investigated the influences of Ca2+ concentration and pH on the passivation of zinc-coated steel bars in the simulated concrete pore solutions through electrochemical tests, microstructure examination, and element composition analysis. The experimental results show that passive film can be generated on the surface of cold-sprayed zinc-coated specimens in the simulated concrete pore solutions with pH = 12.5 and Ca2+ concentration above 0.8 g/L, but Ca2+ concentration determines the density and quality of the passive film. The passive film can resist the attack of chloride ions up to 0.2 mol/L. Compared with hot-dip galvanized coating, more large-sized and compacted crystals are generated on the surface of cold-sprayed zinc coating. Thus, it is feasible to apply cold-sprayed zinc technology to provide corrosion protection for steel bars in the concrete.

Construction of an artificial zinc alloy layer toward stable zinc-metal anode

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) present a promising option for next-generation batteries given their high safety, eco-friendliness, and resource sustainability. Nonetheless, the practical application of zinc anodes is hindered by inevitable parasitic reactions and dendrite growth. Here, zinc alloy layers (i.e., ZnCo and ZnFe alloys) were rationally constructed on the zinc surface by chemical displacement reactions. The alloying process exposes more (002) planes of the ZnCo anode to guide the preferential and dendrite-free zinc deposition. Furthermore, the ZnCo alloy layer not only effectively inhibits water-induced side reactions but also accelerates electrode kinetics, enabling highly reversible zinc plating/stripping. As a result, the ZnCo anode achieves a Coulombic efficiency of 99.2% over 1300 cycles, and the ZnCo symmetric cell exhibits a long cycle life of over 2000 h at 4.4 mA cm−2. Importantly, the ZnCo//NH4V4O10 full cell retains a high discharge capacity of 218.4 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles. Meanwhile, the ZnFe-based symmetric cell also displays excellent cycling stability over 2500 h at 1.77 mA cm−2. This strategy provides a facile anode modification approach toward high-performance AZIBs.

Ultrafast laser one-step construction of 3D micro-/nanostructures achieving high-performance zinc metal anodes

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries provide a most promising alternative to the existing lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity, intrinsic safety, and low cost. However, commercializing aqueous zinc-ion batteries suffer from dendritic growth and side reactions on the surface of metallic zinc, resulting in poor reversibility. To overcome this critical challenge, here, we report a one-step ultrafast laser processing method for fabricating three-dimensional micro-/nanostructures on zinc anodes to optimize zinc nucleation and deposition processes. It is demonstrated that the three-dimensional micro-/nanostructure with increased specific surface area significantly reduces nucleation overpotential, as well as preferentially absorbs zinc ions to prevent dendritic protuberances and corrosion. As a result, the presence of three-dimensional micro-/nanostructures on the zinc metal delivers stable zinc plating/stripping beyond 2500 h (2 mA cm-2/1 mAh cm-2) in symmetric cells, a high Coulombic efficiency (99.71%) in half cells, and moreover an improved capacity retention (71.8%) is also observed in full cells. Equally intriguingly, the pouch cell with three-dimensional micro-/nanostructures can operate across various bending states without severely compromising performance. This work provides an effective strategy to construct ultrafine and high-precision three-dimensional micro-/nanostructures achieving high-performance zinc metal anodes and is expected to be of immediate benefit to other metal-based electrodes.

Direct Growth of a Polymer Film to Induce Horizontal Orientation of Zn4(OH)6SO4·xH2O for Stable Zn Metal Batteries.

The loose and randomly oriented byproduct (i.e., Zn4(OH)6SO4·xH2O, ZHS) in situ formed on the zinc (Zn) surface is recognized to be the primary cause for dendritic Zn growth and side reactions. Switching the detrimental passivation film into a dense and kinetically favorable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is a straightforward strategy to tackle these issues faced by Zn metal anodes but remains largely unexplored. Herein, a new polymer film directly grown on Zn metal through room-temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is proposed to induce the lateral growth of ZHS nanosheets and decrease the Zn2+ desolvation barrier, thereby forming a beneficial composite SEI for suppressing Zn dendrite growth and surface corrosion. As a result of the joint effect, we realize an impressively stable cycling behavior in symmetric cell over 3400 h at 2 mA cm-2. Moreover, full cells also demonstrate prolonged lifespans. This work opens a new avenue for stabilizing Zn metal batteries by turning detrimental ZHS into a favorable interlayer.

Facile fabrication of multiple biomimetic patterned superwetting zinc surfaces with enhanced collecting efficiency from water mist

Water shortage has emerged as a significant worldwide issue as a result of the frequency of extreme weather events like storms, droughts and climate warming. One possible way to address the world's freshwater deficit is to effectively extract freshwater from water mist. In this work, a series of biomimetic superhydrophobic-hydrophilic patterned zinc materials for mist collection was designed via mold pressing, anodic oxidation and laser-scanning methods. The fog collector is able to capture droplets efficiently and transport water quickly due to its unique array structure. The patterned superhydrophobic-hydrophilic zinc surface contained the highest water mist collection efficiency of about 10.89 g·m−2·s−1, which is 75 % higher than the original zinc sheet. The surface structure, chemical composition of the superwetting zinc materials were investigated by FT-IR, XPS, FESEM and EDS, respectively. In addition, the mechanical robustness, weather ability and enhancing mechanism of the prepared superwetting zinc surfaces were investigated via UV exposure, multiple thermal/cold cycles and sandpaper abrasion treatment. The good collecting efficiency from water mist of the obtained functional surfaces may provide ideas for the future design of mist collection materials.