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Vol. 17 (2025)

Breaking Performance Limits of Zn Anodes in Aqueous Batteries by Tailoring Anion and Cation Additives

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01773-6
Zhaoxu Mai
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
Yuexing Lin
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
Jingying Sun
Instrumental Analysis and Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
Chenhui Wang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
Gongzheng Yang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China
Chengxin Wang
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou 510275, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Chengxin Wang

wchengx@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 259

Abstract

Crystallographic engineering of Zn anodes to favor the exposure of (002) planes is an effective approach for improving stability in aqueous electrolytes. However, achieving non-epitaxial electrodeposition with a pronounced (002) texture and maintaining this orientation during extended cycling remains challenging. This study questions the prevailing notion that a single (002)-textured Zn anode inherently ensures superior stability, showing that such anodes cannot sustain their texture in ZnSO4 electrolytes. We then introduced a novel electrolyte additive, benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC), which preserves the (002) texture over prolonged cycling. Furthermore, we successfully converted commercial Zn foils into highly crystalline (002)-textured Zn without any pretreatment. Experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the cationic TEBA+ selectively adsorbs onto the anode surface, promoting the exposure of the Zn(002) plane and suppressing dendrite formation. A critical discovery was the pitting corrosion caused by chloride ions from TEBAC, which we mitigated by anion substitution. This modification leads to a remarkable lifespan of 375 days for the Zn||Zn symmetric cells at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, a TEBA+-modified Zn||VO2 full cell demonstrates high specific capacity and robust cycle stability at 10.0 A g−1. These results provide valuable insights and strategies for developing long-life Zn ion batteries.


Highlights:
1 Cationic benzyltriethylammonium chloride enables high (002)-textured Zn via selective adsorption, outperforming prior additives.
2 In situ homogenization converts commercial Zn foil into highly (002)-textured Zn anodes without pretreatments.
3 Cl−-induced pitting corrosion mechanism uncovered, leading to a breakthrough in performance limits of Zn anodes.

Keywords

Energy storage Aqueous zinc-ion batteries Electrolyte additives Single Zn(002)-texture Anion engineering
Mai, Zhaoxu, Yuexing Lin, Jingying Sun, Chenhui Wang, Gongzheng Yang, and Chengxin Wang. 2025. “Breaking Performance Limits of Zn Anodes in Aqueous Batteries by Tailoring Anion and Cation Additives”. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (May):259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01773-6.
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