Suppression of Zinc Dendrites by Bamboo-Inspired Additive\nfor Aqueous Zinc Battery

Abstract

Rechargeable\naqueous zinc-ion batteries (RAZIB) are emerging as\npromising candidates for renewable energy storage devices, offering\nsuperior electrochemical performance, enhanced safety, and economic\nviability. However, the uncontrolled parasitic reactions and the growth\nof zinc dendrites resulting from nonuniform deposition impede the\npractical application of RAZIBs. Herein, inspired by the biological\nrole of bamboo parenchymal cells (BPC), a biomimetic electrolyte additive\nwas introduced to enhance the performance of RAZIBs. Abundant, readily\nextractable, and environmentally friendly BPC additives integrate\nthe structural characteristics of inorganic materials and the advantages\nof organic materials. (1) BPC acts as the rich Zn²⁺ reservoir\non the anode by adsorbing Zn²⁺ from the electrolyte, significantly\nmitigating concentration polarization. (2) The three-dimensional (3D)\npolyhedral structure of BPC provides numerous active sites to homogenize\nZn²⁺ flux and inhibit two-dimensional (2D) diffusion on\nthe anode. (3) BPC can suppress hydrogen evolution corrosion and guide\nZn deposition toward smoother and denser crystal planes. Consequently,\nthe symmetrical cells containing BPC can stably cycle over 3000 h\nwith minimal voltage hysteresis, and the half-cells exhibit a high\naverage Coulombic efficiency (99.67%) over 380 cycles at 5 mA cm^–2. Our strategy demonstrates a zincophilic biomass\nmaterial for constructing a uniformly zinc-rich and fast-transporting\ninterface layer at the anode interface, paving the way for the sustainable\nutilization of biomass materials applied in the field of energy storage.