Revealing the Zn electrodeposition process behind the voltage profile

The development of aqueous Zn-based batteries (AZBs) is mainly hindered by some issues occurring in Zn electrodeposition process (ZEDP), and more detailed understanding of the ZEDP is urgently needed. The applications of voltage profile in AZBs are insufficient. In this work, a model connecting the voltage profile and Zn deposition morphology is used to understand ZEDP. Combined with the results of in-situ observation and the variation of the voltage profile, a charging voltage profile can be divided into three periods, including nucleation, growth, and hydrogen evolution reaction. Then, the model based on the variation of deposition morphology is developed to simulate the voltage profile, which can describe ZEDP by the variation of key parameters. This model can simulate the voltage profile and explain the regulation mechanism, when the electrolyte viscosity increases. Thus, ZEDP can be reunderstood mechanistically through the relationship between voltage profile and ZEDP, which can monitor the surface state in real time and guide the design of high-performance AZBs.