ZIF-67/Ppy Film on the Anode Synthesized by Electrochemical Method for High-Performance Aqueous Magnesium Metal Batteries

Abstract Environmental and resource crises demand clean energy. Magnesium batteries offer high capacity, safety, and low cost, but severe passivation and self-corrosion in aqueous environments hinder their development. This study introduces an innovative method for electrochemically synthesizing a ZIF-67/Ppy composite film on the surface of magnesium electrodes. The modification of the ZIF-67/Ppy film layer effectively inhibits side reactions on the magnesium anode surface, thereby significantly enhancing its corrosion resistance. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the aqueous magnesium battery with ZIF-67/Ppy modification exhibited superior electrochemical performance. Specifically, the single discharge duration was extended from 2.5 h to approximately 8.3 h, and the initial discharge potential increased by nearly 0.2 V compared to the unmodified battery. In long-term cycling tests, the ZIF-67/Ppy-modified magnesium batteries demonstrate exceptional stability and reduced polarization levels. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the incorporation of the ZIF-67/Ppy film facilitates reaction kinetics and improves electron transfer at the anode surface.