Polymer-based passive layer to stabilize zinc anode in aqueous electrolyte

Metallic zinc holds promise as a cost-effective and scalable material for secondary energy storage applications. However, its inherent reversibility issues hinder its practical implementation. Among various strategies, interface engineering has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the reversibility of zinc anodes. Herein we introduce an innovative method involving the parallel deposition of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and zinc metal, creating a composite layer of polymer and zinc, denoted as Zn-PAA. This unique Zn-PAA layer deposition technique remarkably enhances interfacial behavior, ensuring superior cyclic stability in symmetric cells. Moreover, the Zn-PAA layer reduces polarization effects and effectively mitigates interface alterations during plating and stripping processes resulting in increased interface stability. This study highlights the potential of simultaneous electropolymerisation and zinc deposition as a promising strategy to coat and densify interface on zinc anode with intertangled matrix of zinc and polymer for improving the performance and stability of zinc anodes in batteries.