Selective Acid Etching Construction of High (101) Texture Zinc Metal Anodes for High-Performance Zinc Ion Batteries

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIB) are significantly constrained by the poor stability of Zn anodes in aqueous electrolytes, which is caused by uncontrollable deposition behavior and parasitic reactions. The construction of specific crystalline surfaces represents an effective method for stabilizing Zn anodes. Therefore, a stable Malic acid@Zn (MA@Zn) anode with a highly (101) texture configuration is developed through acid etching. The mechanism of MA selective etching is investigated through theoretical calculations, where Zn atoms detach from the (002) crystal surface due to the strong interaction of MA with the (002) surface, leading to the preferential corrosion of the (002) surface and the formation of a unique (101) texture configuration morphology. This texture is conducive to the MA@Zn anode, as it enhances the affinity of MA@Zn for Zn²⁺ and optimizes the electric field distribution on the surface, thereby facilitating a more stable Zn deposition. Consequently, the MA@Zn symmetric battery is subjected to stable cycling for a period exceeding 2400 h at a current density of 5 mA cm⁻². In comparison, the cycle life of the Zn//V₂O₅ full battery is significantly improved by >6000 cycles, pouch battery also shows better performance.