An interface bridged organic-inorganic layer suppressing dendrite and side reactions for ultra-long life aqueous Zn metal anodes.

Aqueous zinc (Zn) batteries (AZBs) are widely considered as a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage owing to its excellent safety feature. However, the application of Zn anode is hindered by severe dendrite formation and side reactions. Herein an interfacial bridged organic-inorganic hybrid protection layer (Nafion-Zn-X) is developed by complexing inorganic Zn-X zeolite nanoparticles with Nafion, which shifts ion transport from channel transport in Nafion to hopping mechanism in organic-inorganic interface. This unique organic-inorganic structure is found to effectively suppress dendrite growth and side reactions of Zn anode. Consequently, Zn@Nafion-Zn-X composite anode delivers high coulombic efficiency (~97%), deep Zn plating/stripping (10 mAh cm -2 ) and long cycle life (over 10000 cycles). By tackling the intrinsic chemical/electrochemical issues, the proposed strategy provides a versatile remedy for the limited cycle life of Zn anode.