A highly reversible, dendrite-free zinc metal anodes enabled by a dual-layered interface

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are gaining increasing interest owning to their merits of high safety, cost-effectiveness, environmental benignity, and high energy. However, the uncontrolled Zn dendrite growth, gas generation, and severe corrosion stemming from the side reactions between Zn metal anodes and aqueous electrolytes significantly restrict the practical application of AZIBs. Herein, an organic-inorganic dual protection layer (Nafion/Zn3(PO4)2, NFZP), which is featured with organic layer (Nafion) on the top and inorganic layer (Zn3(PO4)2) at the bottom, is built on the surface of Zn electrodes (NFZP@Zn). The dual-layered interface can not only suppress dendrite growth but also inhibit the side reactions. The decorated NFZP@Zn electrode can maintain an ultralong plating/stripping cycling life of 2800 h with an ultralow voltage hysteresis (45 mV) at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2. When coupled with a MnO2 cathode, the full cells with NFZP@Zn anodes demonstrated significantly improved cycling stability. This work paves the road for the future development of AZIBs.