Zn Layer Research Articles

Enhancing corrosion resistance of Al alloy sheets with potential gradient by arc-sprayed Zn coatings

To improve the corrosion resistance and wide the application of Al alloy sheet in the engineering production, a corrosion potential gradient along the thickness of the Al alloy sheet was fabricated using the sprayed Zn layer. The process of arc spraying was employed to obtain the Zn coating with optimizing the parameters. Electrochemical testing was conducted on the surface of Al alloy sprayed with Zn layers at different depths. As the depth in the thickness direction increases, the content of Zn alloy elements gradually decreases and the potential gradually increases. This exhibits a gradual decrease in corrosion tendency. The results of electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) revealed the existence of pitting corrosion on the surface of the Al alloy. This even extended to the underlying substrate material. In contrast, the Zn coating, when exposed to a corrosive environment, demonstrated the beneficial cathodic effect as a sacrificial anode and the protective function of a passivating film, thus mitigating corrosion. The gradual increase in charge transfer resistance in the impedance spectrum suggested that the corrosion resistance of the sample is increasingly improved. Therefore, it exhibited remarkable resistance to corrosion. Additionally, the SEM surface morphology and XRD pattern were utilized to further explain the corrosion mechanism of the arc-sprayed Zn coating. The Zn coating can provide sacrificial protection to the Al layer due to its higher negative potential and localized corrosion reactivity. This is attributed to the micro-galvanic couples formed between the Zn and Al layer, thus increasing the corrosion resistance of the sheets.

Atomic structure of different surface terminations of polycrystalline ZnPd

The intermetallic compound ZnPd has been found to have desirable characteristics as a catalyst for the steam reforming of methanol. The understanding of the surface structure of ZnPd is important to optimize its catalytic behavior. However, due to the lack of bulk single-crystal samples and the complexity of characterizing surface properties in the available polycrystalline samples using common experimental techniques, all previous surface science studies of this compound have been performed on surface alloy samples formed through thin-film deposition. In this study, we present findings on the chemical and atomic structure of the surfaces of bulk polycrystalline ZnPd studied by a variety of complementary experimental techniques, including scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy electron microscopy (LEEM), photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), and microspot low-energy electron diffraction (μ-LEED). These experimental techniques, combined with density functional theory (DFT)-based thermodynamic calculations of surface free energy and detachment kinetics at the step edges, confirm that surfaces terminated by atomic layers composed of both Zn and Pd atoms are more stable than those terminated by only Zn or Pd layers. DFT calculations also demonstrate that the primary contribution to the tunneling current arises from Pd atoms, in agreement with the STM results. The formation of intermetallics at surfaces may contribute to the superior catalyst properties of ZnPd over Zn or Pd elemental counterparts. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Comparison of copper-based composites fabricated by cross-accumulative roll bonding method for packaging design

Copper-based composites have interesting properties and they are widely used in electronics, packaging, and automotive applications. In the present work, the cross-accumulative roll bonding (CARB) process was used to fabricate Cu-based composites with Zn and Brass reinforcing layers. The experimental observations revealed a clear relationship between rolling strain and plastic instabilities including the necking and rupture of reinforcement. However, the grain refinement was observed on Cu, Zn, and Brass layers after seven CARB cycles, indicating the positive impact of rolling rotation on obtaining the ultrafine grains. Better ductility of Brass also resulted in finer grains. This also led to more significant improvement in mechanical properties. During the CARB process, the hardness of Zn and Brass increased from 59 HV and 250 HV to 89 HV and 310 HV, respectively.

Study on corrosion behavior Ⅱ of hot-dipped Zn-6Al-3Mg alloy coating: Surface oxide layer and ternary eutectic corrosion

The oxide layer and ternary eutectic of Zn–6Al–3Mg alloy coating have an important effect on its corrosion behavior and corrosion resistance, but the influence of oxide layer on the corrosion behavior of the coating and the internal corrosion mechanism of ternary eutectic structure are still unclear. In this study, the oxide layer and ternary eutectic of the coating were characterized in detail, and the corrosion behavior of the oxide layer and ternary eutectic in the environment containing Cl were studied based on first principles of density functional theory. The results show that the surface oxide layer can initially prevent the erosion of Cl-, MgZn2 in ternary eutectic preferentially corrodes after the oxide layer dissolves, corrosion products are formed.

Dual-Layer Nanoengineered Urinary Catheters for Enhanced Antimicrobial Efficacy and Reduced Cytotoxicity.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common healthcare-associated infection; however, current therapeutic strategies remain insufficient for standard clinical application. A novel urinary catheter featuring a dual-layer nanoengineering approach using zinc (Zn) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is successfully fabricated. This design targets microbial resistance, minimizes cytotoxicity, and maintains long-term efficacy. The inner AgNPs layer provides immediate antibacterial effects against the UTI pathogens, while the outer porous Zn layer controls zero-order Ag release and generates reactive oxygen species, thus enhancing long-term bactericidal performance. Enhanced antibacterial properties of Zn/AgNPs-coated catheters are observed, resulting in 99.9% of E. coli and 99.7% of S. aureus reduction, respectively. The Zn/AgNPs-coated catheter significantly suppresses biofilm with sludge formation compared to AgNP-coated and uncoated catheters (all, p<0.05). The Zn/AgNP-coated catheter in a rabbit model demonstrated a durable, effective barrier against bacterial colonization, maintaining antimicrobial properties during the catheter indwelling period with significantly reduced inflammation and epithelial disruption compared with AgNP and uncoated groups. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the design of antimicrobial medical devices, particularly for applications requiring long-term implantation. Although further preclinical studies are required to verify its efficacy and safety, this strategy seems to be a promising approach to preventing CAUTI-related complications.

A MgZn alloy with network structure prepared by powder metallurgy with Core-Shell powder

In order to slow down the degradation rate of the magnesium alloys, a core–shell powder with a layer of Zn coated on the surface of Mg particles was prepared by eletroless plating, and then was compacted and sintered to form a Mg-Zn alloy with a network structure (net MgZn alloy), in which a network structure of Zn alloy wraps around Mg grains. The strength of the net MgZn alloy is 102 MPa, which is slightly lower than that of the pure Mg. The degradation rate of the net MgZn alloy is about 25 % of pure Mg after 4 days immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), at which time pure Mg was completely dissolved. Hydrogen evolution for the net MgZn alloy increased gradually and linearly and had not a rapid increase.

Zinc isotope fractionation during coprecipitation with amorphous iron (hydr)oxides

Coprecipitation facilitates the incorporation of Zn into the lattice of Fe (hydr)oxide, which is a crucial mechanism causing low Zn bioavailability in widespread Zn-deficient soils. Zn isotopes are a potential indicator of the coprecipitation of Zn and Fe (hydr)oxides in soils. However, the Zn isotope fractionation caused by coprecipitation with amorphous Fe (hydr)oxides (e.g., ferrihydrite) and the impact of environmentally relevant conditions remain unknown. Here, the molecular mechanism and impact factor of Zn isotope fractionation during Zn2+-Fe3+ coprecipitation under natural soil conditions (including different pH values and initial Zn/Fe ratios) were investigated by combining isotope ratio measurements, extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses, and density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimization. The results show that aqueous Zn (Znaq) can be complexed on the ferrihydrite surface (Znads) with positive isotope fractionation (Δ66Znads–aq = 0.42 ± 0.09 ‰) or directly incorporated into the ferrihydrite lattice with slightly negative isotope fractionation (Δ66Znstru-aq = −0.08 ± 0.03 ‰). In addition, over time, the surface-complexed Zn can further transform to a layered structure on the surface but exhibits limited Zn isotope fractionation. According to Zn K-edge EXAFS, the Zn isotope fractionation of surface complexation and incorporation of Znaq are related to the decrease in the Zn–O bond strength in the order surface complexed Zn (RZn–O = 2.00 Å) > aqueous Zn (RZn–O = 2.08 Å) > directly incorporated Zn (RZn–O = 2.06–2.07 Å with slight distortion). The limited Zn isotope fractionation associated with the transformation of Znads is related to the reconfiguration of Znads during the nucleation of octahedral Zn layer structures. Furthermore, the primary process controlling Zn isotope fractionation is different under varying experimental conditions, leading to distinct Zn isotope fractionation between the bulk solid and solution during Zn–Fe coprecipitation. Low pH values (5.0–6.0) and initial Zn/Fe ratios (0.01–0.02) favor the direct precipitation of Znaq, resulting in slightly negative Zn isotope fractionation between the bulk solid and solution. In contrast, high pH values (7.0–7.5) and initial Zn/Fe ratios (0.1–0.2) favor surface complexation and the transformation of Znads, leading to heavy Zn isotope enrichment in the bulk solid. These findings offer novel insights into the primary mechanism through which Fe (hydr)oxides regulate Zn bioavailability in Zn-deficient soils and provide experimental evidence supporting the potential application of Zn isotopes as an indicator for comprehending the fate of Zn controlled by Fe (hydr)oxides in soils.

Increasing ductility beyond post-uniform deformation through Zn lamellae deformation in Al at room temperature

The Zn element precipitates during aging in the Al–Zn binary alloy. Increased Zn content and prolonged aging leads to discontinuous Zn precipitation. The addition of 2 wt% Cu to the Al-43 wt%Zn alloy accelerates this discontinuous precipitation, resulting in decreased thickness of Zn layers and inter-distance between them. This acceleration is attributed to the influence of Cu solutes on the Zn phase, thereby reducing the interface energy between Zn precipitates and the Al matrix. The Al–Zn–Cu alloy demonstrates exceptional behavior during tensile tests, displaying a simultaneous increase in tensile strength and ductility alongside an 75 % reduction in area at room temperature drawing. Notably, despite the drawn beyond uniform deformation limit, there is an observed increase in total elongation. Our demonstration highlights this phenomenon, attributing it to the sustained coherent interface between the Zn layer and the Al matrix, as well as the uninterrupted continuity of Zn layers during drawing.

Numerical and experimental study on effect of induction heating parameters on the coating of Zn layer on mild steel

The objective of the study is to determine the most effective induction heating parameters for melting pure zinc selectively over the mild steel substrate surface. The numerical simulation on effect of induction heating parameters on the mild steel substrate is studied using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software. The optimised effective parameters are used for the experimental analysis for the validation. Variables such as coil configuration, stand-off distance (SOD), coil current and frequency were systematically changed, and optimal settings were chosen on the basis of time temperature contour curve and the heating rate within the material. Results of the numerical analysis portrayed that a pancake coil geometrical configuration, SOD of 2 mm, coil current of 300 A and alternating frequency of 300 kHz were found as the optimum set of parameters for the effective surface repair. An experimental investigation was carried out by depositing a thin layer of zinc on mild steel substrate using the optimized parameters. The surface integrity of the coated specimen was examined through the high-resolution optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) techniques. The hardness property of the coated specimen was examined with a Vickers microhardness tester. The microstructure analysis and hardness measurement showed that consistent coating is achieved without affecting the base metal/substrate properties. The experimental results very much coincide with the numerical simulation.

Roll bonding characteristics of the Mg/Zn/Cu/Al multilayered composite produced by the ARB process

In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the laminated Mg/Zn/Cu/Al composite produced by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) was investigated. For this purpose, interfacial microstructural formed during the heat treatment were investigated. The results showed that with increase in both temperature and time, the diffusion layers (DLs) grew. The brass, (Al,Cu), and (Mg,Zn) layers created that is related to the diffusion and interface migration. The growth of the brass layer was diffusion controlled and the growth of the (Al,Cu), and (Mg,Zn) layers were mixed controlled. In both of them, chemical compositions were changed and new phases created as DLs.

Fabrication of RC filters from a single printed Zn layer by reactive inkjet printing

This paper presents the development of planar zinc (Zn) resistor–capacitor (RC) filters from a single printed layer that are both printed and treated at room temperature. The fabrication process involves screen printing the resistor, capacitor and interconnects in a single patterned layer on kraft paper substrates using a Zn microparticle ink. In order to form a distinct resistor and capacitor in the patterned structure, reactive inkjet printing (RIJ) was performed to selectively dispense acetic acid on the RC filter pattern to achieve regions with highly contrasting resistance. The required high degree of spatial contrast was achieved using the positional control of the inkjet printer combined with the number of print passes and drop spacing used to dispense the acetic acid droplets. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy showed the crystal structure and grain size of Zn microparticles remained unchanged with increasing acetic acid exposure while the prominence of cold-welding increased with increasing exposure. Zn-based RC filters sharing a common set of dimensions but with a wide range of corner frequencies were successfully fabricated using this process. For a fixed filter geometry, the corner frequencies could be tuned from ∼7 kHz to ∼1 MHz as the number of print passes used to form the resistor increased in a stepwise manner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first room temperature printing process to produce side-by-side resistors and conductors from the same printed layer and the first printing process of any type to produce RC filters with such a wide range of corner frequencies.

The enhanced oxidation resistance of zinc-coated Nd-Fe-B spherical powders using a rotation coating technique

A rotation coating technique was used to apply Zn layer onto MQP-S Nd-Fe-B spherical powders, aiming to enhance their anti-oxidation properties while maintaining their high magnetic performance. As the coating temperature increases and duration extends, the Zn layer thickness grows, subsequently leading to a reduction in powder magnetization primarily due to the introduction of nonmagnetic Zn. A certain level of degradation of the original Nd-Fe-B powders also occurs during coating, which appears to be relatively minor, as the powders' coercivity remains almost unchanged after coating. All powders coated under different conditions effectively prevent further oxidation, maintaining almost unaltered magnetization during high-temperature tests. It demonstrates that rotation coating using lower melting point metals is a simple yet effective method to enhance the anti-oxidation capability of Nd-Fe-B powders. Moreover, this approach is easily scalable, which is important for applications in fabricating metal injection molding or bonded magnets.

Arrays of Hierarchical Zincophilic Nanorods with Trapping‐and‐Leveling Deposition for Ultrastable Zn Metal Anodes

AbstractRechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are highly promising for large‐scale sustainable energy storage applications, but there remain serious problems such as Zn dendrites and side reactions that limit the cycling performance. Herein, arrays of core–shell nanorods on Cu foam are developed to stabilize zinc anodes, which have a hierarchical topological structure consisting of N‐doped carbon layers embedded with a zincophilic component of Cu5Zn8 alloy (Cu5Zn8@NC). It is found that the inner Cu5Zn8 alloys have minimized nucleation barriers and act as preferred nucleation sites, and the hierarchical arrays provide the protective layers to further accommodate the high‐capacity plating Zn, leading to a trapping‐and‐leveling process of Zn deposition. The as‐obtained Zn layers play an important role in homogenizing the interfacial ionic fluxes and reducing the local current densities. As a result, the optimized Cu5Zn8@NC host yields a superb Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% over 5000 plating/stripping cycles, and the corresponding symmetric cell delivers an ultralong dendrite‐free cycle life of 7000 h with a low overpotential of 16.5 mV at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. The ZIB assembled with the zinc anode and a V2O5 cathode exhibits long‐term charging/discharging cycles as well, up to 89.2% capacity retention after 10 000 cycles.

Design of AlGaN-Zn(Si,Ge)N2 quantum wells for high-efficiency ultraviolet light emitters

The effect of inserting a nm-scale layer of Zn(Si,Ge)N2 into an AlGaN quantum well structure designed for light emission in the wavelength range from 255 to 305 nm is investigated here. The enhanced confinement of the hole within the quantum well results in an enhancement of the overlap of the hole and electron wave functions, resulting in an enhancement of the radiative recombination rate. In this theoretical calculation, for emission at a 270 nm wavelength, the enhancement in the wavefunction overlap can reach a factor of 7 when compared to an AlGaN quantum well device specifically engineered for optimal emission at the identical wavelength. Increases of almost an order of magnitude in both the peak spontaneous emission intensity and the radiative recombination rate are predicted. The peak emission wavelength can be tuned from 255 to 305 nm by adjusting the width and/or the composition of the inserted layer. The proposed structures provide a route to higher efficiency ultraviolet practical light emitting diodes and lasers.

Surface energy and stress driven growth of extremely long and high-density ZnO nanowires using a thermal step-oxidation process.

Formation of highly crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires with an extremely high aspect ratio (length = 60 μm, diameter = 50 nm) is routinely achieved by introducing an intermediate step-oxidation method during the thermal oxidation process of thin zinc (Zn) films. High-purity Zn was deposited onto clean glass substrates at room temperature using a vacuum-assisted thermal evaporation technique. Afterwards, the as-deposited Zn layers were thermally oxidized under a closed air ambient condition at different temperatures and durations. Structural, morphological, chemical, optical and electrical properties of these oxide layers were investigated using various surface characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). It was noticed that the initial thermal oxidation of Zn films usually starts above 400 °C. Homogeneous and lateral growth of the ZnO layer is usually preferred for oxidation at a lower temperature below 500 °C. One-dimensional (1D) asymmetric growth of ZnO started to dominate thermal oxidation above 600 °C. Highly dense 1D ZnO nanowires were specifically observed after prolonged oxidation at 600 °C for 5 hours, followed by short-step oxidation at 700 °C for 30 minutes. However, direct oxidation of Zn films at 700 °C resulted in ZnO nanorod formation. The formation of ZnO nanowires using step-oxidation is explained in terms of surface free energy and compressive stress-driven Zn adatom kinetics through the grain boundaries of laterally grown ZnO seed layers. This simple thermal oxidation process using intermittent step-oxidation was found to be quite unique and very much useful to routinely grow an array of high-density ZnO nanowires. Moreover, these ZnO nanowires showed very high sensitivity and selectivity towards formaldehyde vapour sensing against few other VOCs.

Improved flux and anti-fouling performance of a photocatalytic ZnO membrane on porous stainless steel substrate for microalgae harvesting

Photocatalytic self-cleansing ZnO membranes were developed and used for pre-concentrating microalgae solution prior to harvesting. The inorganic membranes were fabricated via two different methods: (i) direct deposition of ZnO onto a porous stainless steel substrate and (ii) post-growth oxidation of a deposited metallic Zn layer. Systematic surface characterisation revealed a thin layer of homogeneous, crystalline ZnO on the porous membrane. Direct ZnO deposition resulted in a thicker layer with higher UV light absorption capability compared with the post-growth oxidization method. The ZnO coating made the membrane surface highly hydrophilic, resulting in two-fold increase in water permeance compared to the base stainless steel substrate. The high hydrophilicity of the ZnO-coated membrane also led to an increase in the permeate flux of the microalgae solution by up to 100%, making it suitable for microalgae pre-concentration. Upon UV light irradiation, the ZnO membrane demonstrated self-cleansing capability due to the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO coating layer. After 30 min of UV irradiation, the ZnO membrane could achieve 60% permeance recovery after complete fouling. No recovery was observed with the base stainless steel membrane, which was used as the control.

Electrodeposited Lithiophilic Nanoparticles As Artificial Interphase for Anode-Free Lithium Ion Batteries

The world is impatiently waiting for the lithium metal or even anode free batteries - to finally make a significant step forward from current battery technology. Safer and higher in energy and power density are the targeted improvements, and while the latter is met by the choice of lithium metal as anode (or more radically, no anode at all), the safety aspect is not as easily reached (1). The anode interphase was identified long ago as the critical element to this endeavour. Consequently, alternative electrolytes (polymer, ceramic) or additives as well as numerous kinds of protective coatings are being developed (2,3). Lithiophilic metal coatings could also do the job, and it has been shown that sputtered Au or Zn layers on Li metal could prevent dendritic growth in a cell (4). The concept of artificial SEI engineering can be expanded on by using lithiophilic nanoparticles as opposed to continuous coatings. Nanoparticle decorated current collectors or lithium metal anodes can be made by electrodeposition, where the experimental conditions allow for the tuning of particle number density, size and composition (5). A precise understanding of the intermetallic phases formed between lithium and a lithiophilic-metal nanoparticle should enable their optimised design for highest performance and durability. To do so, X-ray and neutron based techniques can be great tools to follow structure and morphology of the anode interphase and correlate those properties to the electrochemical parameters.In this work, we show an investigation of electrodeposited Au or Zn nanoparticles on a current collector. Multiple configurations regarding particle size and number density are explored. Small angle X-ray scattering, electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction are used to characterise the anode interphase in lithium half cells under variation of the degree of lithiation.

Enhanced strength-ductility synergy of Al/Zn/Al laminated composite with unique interface and multi-modal heterogeneous microstructure

Laminated bimetal composites have become an important strategy for designing and manufacturing desirable metallic components. Here, Al/Zn/Al laminated composite was fabricated by porthole die co-extrusion (PDCE) process, offering excellent mechanical performance. An obvious transition zone with a dispersed duplex structure (α and η phases) instead of intermetallic compounds was formed in Al/Zn interface due to element inter-diffusion and eutectoid transformation. The α/η phase interface showed a 3D characteristic with compositional and structural gradients. Moreover, Al/Zn/Al composite displayed a multi-modal heterogenous structure including the typical macroscopic hierarchical structure by alternately stacking Al and Zn layers with different microstructures, the gradient structure from Al/Zn interface to the center of Al or Zn layer, and the bimodal structure formed either near Al/Zn interface or in the layer center. As a result, Al/Zn/Al composite exhibits superior mechanical performance compared with the individual component (Al or Zn) and a satisfactory balance between strength and ductility.

Mechanical properties, corrosion behavior, and cytotoxicity of biodegradable Zn/Mg multilayered composites prepared by accumulative roll bonding process

Zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and their respective alloys have attracted great attention as biodegradable bone-implant materials due to their excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, the poor mechanical strength of Zn alloys and the rapid degradation rate of Mg alloys limit their clinical application. The manufacture of Zn and Mg bimetals may be a promising way to improve their mechanical and degradation properties. Here we report on Zn/Mg multilayered composites prepared via an accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process. With an increase in the number of ARB cycles, the thicknesses of the Zn layer and the Mg layer were reduced, while a large number of heterogeneous interfaces were introduced into the Zn/Mg multilayered composites. The composite samples after 14 ARB cycles showed the highest yield strength of 411±3 MPa and highest ultimate tensile strength of 501±3 MPa among all the ARB processed samples, significantly higher than those of the Zn/Zn and Mg/Mg multilayered samples. The Zn and Mg layers remained continuous in the Zn/Mg composite samples after annealing at 150 °C for 10 min, resulting in a decrease in yield strength from 411±3 MPa to 349±3 MPa but an increase in elongation from 8±1% to 28±1%. The degradation rate of the Zn/Mg multilayered composite samples in Hanks’ solution was ranged from 127±18 µm/y to 6±1 µm/y. The Zn/Mg multilayered composites showed over 100% cell viability with their 25% and 12.5% extracts in relation to MG-63 cells after culturing for 3 d, indicating excellent cytocompatibility. Statement of significanceThis work reports a biodegradable Zn/Mg multilayered composite prepared by accumulative roll bonding (ARB) process. The yield and ultimate tensile strength of the Zn/Mg multilayered composites were improved due to grain refinement and the introduction of a large number of heterogeneous interfaces. The composite samples after 14 ARB cycles showed the highest yield strength of 411±3 MPa and highest ultimate tensile strength of 501±3 MPa among all the ARB processed samples. The degradation rate of the Zn/Mg multilayered composite meets the required degradation rate for biodegradable bone-implant materials. The results demonstrated that it is a very promising approach to improve the strength and biocompatibility of biodegradable Zn-based alloys.

3D hierarchically fractal structure stabilized anode for achieving long-term cycle life of aqueous Zn-ion batteries

The cycling stability of aqueous Zn-ion battery (AZIB) is a serious issue for their successful application, mainly due to the considerable growth of Zn dendrites and the existence of side effects during operation. Herein, the hierarchically three-dimensional (3D) fractal structure of the ZnO/Zn/CuxO@Cu (ZZCC) anode is prepared by a two-step process, where CuxO nanowires are prepared on Cu foam by thermal oxidation method and Zn layer and ZnO surface are formed by plating. This fractal structure increases the electrodynamic surfaces and reduces the local current density, which can regulate Zn plating and inhibit dendritic growth and side effects. Apparently, the symmetric ZZCC-based cell shows a long-term operation time of 3000 h at 1 mA cm−2 with 1 mAh cm−2, and an operation time of more than 1000 h with a discharge depth of 15.94%. Compared with the bare Zn foil anode, the AZIB assembled with the composite of Mn-doped vanadium oxide and reduced graphene oxide cathode and ZZCC anode (MnVO@rGO//ZZCC) exhibits significantly improved cyclability (i.e. with 88.5% capacity retention) and achieves a Coulomb efficiency of 99.4% at 2 A g-1. This hierarchically 3D structure strategy to design anodes with superior cyclic stability contributes to the next generation of secure energy.