Temperature-Dependent Nucleation and Electrochemical Performance of Zn Metal Anodes

A fundamental understanding of the nucleation and growth behaviors of Zn metal anodes over a wide range of temperatures is of great value for suppressing Zn dendrite growth. However, work focused on the early nucleation and growth behavior of Zn metal at various temperatures is still absent. Here, we study the effect of cycling temperature on Zn nuclei size and areal density and find that low temperature induces a smaller and dense nucleus, which prevents the formation of dendrites. Based on this finding, a cooling-treatment-based self-healing strategy is developed to in situ eliminate dendrites, which effectively prolongs the lifespan of the Zn anode by 520%. This novel self-healing strategy could be employed as a reliable strategy for restoring batteries in situ to reach a longer lifespan.