Achieving Ultrahigh‐Rate Planar and Dendrite‐Free Zinc Electroplating for Aqueous Zinc Battery Anodes

Abstract Despite being one of the most promising candidates for grid‐level energy storage, practical aqueous zinc batteries are limited by dendrite formation, which leads to significantly compromised safety and cycling performance. In this study, by using single‐crystal Zn‐metal anodes, reversible electrodeposition of planar Zn with a high capacity of 8 mAh cm −2 can be achieved at an unprecedentedly high current density of 200 mA cm −2 . This dendrite‐free electrode is well maintained even after prolonged cycling (>1200 cycles at 50 mA cm − 2 ). Such excellent electrochemical performance is due to single‐crystal Zn suppressing the major sources of defect generation during electroplating and heavily…

• HR
  Henry Royce Institute

  Awards: EP/R010145/1, EP/R010145
• FI
  Faraday Institution

  Award: EP/R010145/1
• RS
  Royal Society
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Awards: EP/N010868/1, EP/R010145/1, EP/R010145/1, EP/R00661X/1, EP/M02833X/1, EP/M02833X/1, EP/S019367/1, EP/X527257/1, EP/R010145, EP/N010868/1