Anode surface engineering of zinc-ion batteries using tellurium nanobelt as a protective layer for enhancing energy storage performance

Over the years, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted attention as a promising next-generation energy storage technology because of their excellent safety, long cycling performance, eco-friendliness, and high-power density. However, issues, such as the corrosion and dissolution of the Zn anode, limited wettability, and lack of sufficient nucleation sites for Zn plating, have limited their practical application. The introduction of a protective layer comprising of tellurium (Te) nanobelts onto the surface of Zn anode has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and improve the electrochemical behavior by enhancing the safety and wettability of ZIBs, as well as providing numerous nucleation sites for Zn plating. In the presence of a Te-based protective layer, the energy power density of the surface-engineered Zn anode improved significantly (ranging from 310 to 144 W h kg−1, over a power density range of 270 to 1,800 W kg−1), and the lifespan capability was extended. These results demonstrate that the proposed strategy of employing Te nanobelts as a protective layer holds great promise for enhancing the energy storage performance of ZIBs, making them even more attractive as a viable energy storage solution for the future.