Hybrid Artificial Interfacial Layer for Protecting Zinc Anodes and Suppressing Polyiodide Shuttle

As a high-capacity and cost-effective anode, zinc metal is garnering significant attention for aqueous energy storage systems. However, it suffers from serious issues, such as undesirable side reactions, polyiodide shuttle, and uncontrolled Zn dendrite growth. Herein, an innovative solution is proposed by constructing a hybrid artificial interfacial layer on Zn anode surfaces to protect zinc metal anodes. Benefiting from the compact structure and negatively charged ionic channels, the as-obtained protective layer can not only promote Zn nucleation and accelerate zinc ion migration, thereby resulting in remarkable dendrite-free and highly reversible Zn anodes, but also serves as an armor to suppress side reactions and polyiodide shuttle, thereby avoiding the corrosion of zinc anodes. Consequently, both assembled symmetric and aqueous cells deliver a prolonged cycle life. The work offers a promising avenue for achieving ultrastable Zn anodes in aqueous energy storage systems.