Electrochemical dendrite management via voltage-controlled rearrangement

The pursuit of advanced energy-storage solutions has highlighted the potential of rechargeable batteries with metal anodes due to their high specific capacities and low redox potentials. However, the formation of metal dendrites remains a critical challenge, compromising both safety and operational stability. For zinc-based batteries (ZBs), traditional methods to suppress dendrite growth have shown limited success and often entail performance compromise. Here, we propose a novel strategy termed dendrite rearrangement that leverages the electrochemical self-discharge process to controllably address the dendrite issues. By temporarily increasing the input voltage within a single cycle, this strategy resets the cell stability without precipitating undesirable side reactions during normal operation. This pioneering technique extends operational lifespans to over three times their original duration, facilitating 80 000 cycles for Zn-ion hybrid capacitors and 3000 hours for Zn symmetrical cells. Even in scaled-up pouch cells, Ah-level symmetrical cells demonstrate a cumulative capacity nearing 200 000 mAh, significantly surpassing those of reported metal symmetrical cells. Additionally, the electrolytic Zn-MnO2 battery demonstrates a high capacity approaching 10 Ah, setting a new benchmark among reported ZB devices. These results mark a significant advancement towards resolving dendrite-related issues in metal anode batteries, paving the way for their sustainable development and potential commercialization.