Epitaxy Orientation and Kinetics Diagnosis for Zinc Electrodeposition

An accurate assessment of the electrodeposition mechanism is essential for evaluating the electrochemical stability and reversibility of the metal anodes. Multiple strategies aimed at uniform Zn deposition have been extensively reported, yet it is challenging to clarify the Zn crystal growth regularity and activity due to the obscured physicochemical properties of as-deposited Zn. Herein, we present a protocol for elucidating the controlled epitaxial growth process of Zn crystals and quantifying their surface electrochemical activity using scanning electrochemical microscopy. We find that the early-stage epitaxy tends to form a stacked-multilayer structure accompanied by intermittent rotation. The site-dependent kinetics and morphology correlation reveal a distinct evolution path at early and final stages. Our exploration advances the understanding of the Zn growth mechanism and facilitates the realization of the interface kinetics of metal batteries in situ.