Rapid synthesis of few-layer graphdiyne using radio frequency heating and its application for dendrite-free zinc anodes

Graphdiyne (GDY), with specific configuration of sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, is a kind of two-dimensional carbon allotrope. A series of approaches have been developed to synthesisze thin films of GDY, however, the controlled synthesis of GDY films on arbitrary metal substrates with good crystallinity still remains challenging. Herein, we propose an approach for the synthesis of few-layered GDY on arbitary metal substrate using a radio frequency (RF) heating directed temperature gradient at solid/liquid interface. RF irradiation only heats the metal substrate but not the solvent, thus the cross-coupling reaction occurs on metal substrate and monomers remain stable in the bulk solution. We obtained GDY film with homogenous morphology and an average thickness of 1–2 nm on the surface of metal substrate. Due to the high electrical conductivity and uniform pore size, GDY film is used as an artificial interface layer to avoid the formation of Zn dendrite in Zn ion batteries by direct synthesis on Zn anodes. The lifespan of symmetric cells is extended to more than 2000 h.