Reversible Zn Metal Anodes Enabled by Trace Amounts of Underpotential Deposition Initiators

Abstract Routine electrolyte additives are not effective enough for uniform zinc (Zn) deposition, because they are hard to proactively guide atomic‐level Zn deposition. Here, based on underpotential deposition (UPD), we propose an “escort effect” of electrolyte additives for uniform Zn deposition at the atomic level. With nickel ion (Ni 2+ ) additives, we found that metallic Ni deposits preferentially and triggers the UPD of Zn on Ni. This facilitates firm nucleation and uniform growth of Zn while suppressing side reactions. Besides, Ni dissolves back into the electrolyte after Zn stripping with no influence on interfacial charge transfer resistance. Consequently, the optimized cell operates for over 900 h at…

• UC
  University College London

  Awards: EP/V027433/1, EP/L015862/1
• CS
  China Scholarship Council
• WU
  Wuhan University
• WU
  Wuhan University of Technology
• SK
  State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Awards: EP/L015862/1, EP/V027433/1, EP/V027433/1, EP/Y008707/1, EP/V027433/3, EP/V027433/2, EP/V027433/2, EP/V027433/1; EP/V027433/2, EP/Y008707/1, EP/L015862/1, EP/S003053/1, EP/ S003053/1