Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Anode in a Dilute Aqueous Electrolyte Enabled by a pH Buffer Additive

Abstract Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries have drawn increasing attention due to the intrinsic safety, cost‐effectiveness and high energy density. However, parasitic reactions and non‐uniform dendrite growth on the Zn anode side impede their application. Herein, a multifunctional additive, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NHP), is introduced to regulate uniform zinc deposition and to suppress side reactions. The results show that the NH 4 + tends to be preferably absorbed on the Zn surface to form a “shielding effect” and blocks the direct contact of water with Zn. Moreover, NH 4 + and (H 2 PO 4 ) − jointly maintain pH values of the electrode‐electrolyte interface. Consequently, the NHP additive enables highly…

• UC
  University College London

  Awards: EP/V027433/1, EP/L015862/1
• CS
  China Scholarship Council
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Awards: EP/L015862/1, EP/V027433/1, EP/V027433/1, EP/V027433/3