Suppression of Zinc Dendrites by Bamboo-Inspired Additive for Aqueous Zinc Battery

Abstract

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (RAZIB) are emerging as promising candidates for renewable energy storage devices, offering superior electrochemical performance, enhanced safety, and economic viability. However, the uncontrolled parasitic reactions and the growth of zinc dendrites resulting from nonuniform deposition impede the practical application of RAZIBs. Herein, inspired by the biological role of bamboo parenchymal cells (BPC), a biomimetic electrolyte additive was introduced to enhance the performance of RAZIBs. Abundant, readily extractable, and environmentally friendly BPC additives integrate the structural characteristics of inorganic materials and the advantages of organic materials. (1) BPC acts as the rich Zn²⁺ reservoir on the anode by adsorbing Zn²⁺ from the electrolyte, significantly mitigating concentration polarization. (2) The three-dimensional (3D) polyhedral structure of BPC provides numerous active sites to homogenize Zn²⁺ flux and inhibit two-dimensional (2D) diffusion on the anode. (3) BPC can suppress hydrogen evolution corrosion and guide Zn deposition toward smoother and denser crystal planes. Consequently, the symmetrical cells containing BPC can stably cycle over 3000 h with minimal voltage hysteresis, and the half-cells exhibit a high average Coulombic efficiency (99.67%) over 380 cycles at 5 mA cm^–2. Our strategy demonstrates a zincophilic biomass material for constructing a uniformly zinc-rich and fast-transporting interface layer at the anode interface, paving the way for the sustainable utilization of biomass materials applied in the field of energy storage.