Molecular Synergistic Effects Mediate Efficient Interfacial Chemistry: Enabling Dendrite-Free Zinc Anode for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

The primary cause of the accelerated battery failure in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is the uncontrollable evolution of the zinc metal-electrolyte interface. In the present research on the development of multiadditives to ameliorate interfaces, it is challenging to elucidate the mechanisms of the various components. Additionally, the synergy among additive molecules is frequently disregarded, resulting in the combined efficacy of multiadditives that is unlikely to surpass the sum of each component. In this study, the "molecular synergistic effect" is employed, which is generated by two nonhomologous acid ester (NAE) additives in the double electrical layer microspace. Specifically, ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) is more inclined to induce the oriented deposition of zinc metal by means of targeted adsorption with the zinc (002) crystal plane. Methyl acetate (MA) is more likely to enter the solvated shell of Zn