Zinc anode with artificial solid electrolyte interface for dendrite-free Ni-Zn secondary battery

Rechargeable nickel-zinc battery is regarded as a prospective choice for next-generation energy storage device due to its good safety, environmental friendliness and high energy density. However, zinc anode inevitably suffers from uncontrollable growth of zinc dendrites and the dissolution of zinc metal in high-concentration alkaline electrolytes, resulting in poor cycle stability and severely hampering the widespread applications of nickel-zinc batteries. Herein, a unique zinc anode with artificial solid electrolyte interface (ASEI) is facilely constructed via the rolling-tearing of tin and zinc foils and subsequent surface-based chemical reaction in a lead salt solution. The as-prepared ASEI composed of lead film has an efficient protective effect on preventing the dissolution of zinc anode. Meanwhile, the lead element and residual tin can not only enhance hydrogen evolution over-potential of zinc anode but affect the zinc growth mechanism. As a consequence, an excellent cyclic performances upto 100 cycles (capacity retention: 90%) with high reversible capacities are achieved for the zinc anode with AESI.