Achieving in-system modification of Zn anode on stainless steel mesh for seawater-based energy storage with advanced dendrite-free self-regulation mechanism

In this work, Zn anode with a high compatibility to seawater system is fabricated on stainless steel mesh using an ultra-simple in-system synthesis technique. Physical characterizations reveal that the film electrode is composed by cross-linked Zn nanoflakes structure with outstanding adhesion and mechanical deformation tolerance. Being adopted as seawater-compatible anode, the as-synthesized Zn electrode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 30 mAh cm−2 with obvious advantages such as outstanding rate capability, strong tolerance to real-time varied current, low capacity decay, and good long-term cycling stability. The assembled Zn-air battery performs a maximum energy density of 285 Wh m−2 and successfully lights up various electronic devices. Furthermore, the self-regulation working mechanism and the growth kinetic of Zn electrode are further investigated using in-situ optical microscopy observations and in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. This work demonstrates a promising feasibility for fabricating highly reversible and low-cost Zn electrode in seawater system aiming to large-scale energy storage.