Dendrite-free and highly stable Zn metal anode with ZIF-8 ions-transport layer

As a promising anode for rechargeable aqueous batteries for grid energy storage, zinc metal has received considerable attention. However, its practical use is severely hampered by uncontrollable dendrite growth and surface parasitic reactions. In this paper, zeolite imidazole salt framework-8 (ZIF-8) interphase with open metal sites (OMSs) was constructed on the Zn anode as a highly zinc-friendly medium and ion-screening agent to synergistically induce rapid and uniform Zn nucleation/deposition. In addition, the interfacial shielding of the interphase significantly inhibited surface corrosion and hydrogen evolution. As a result, the ultra-stable zinc plating/stripping process significantly boosts cycle life by 1350 hours compared to bare Zn at 1 mA cm-2 with 1 mAh cm-2, achieving a cumulative plating capacity of 0.75 Ah cm-2. Moreover, the modified Zn anode ensures exceptional stability and cycling performance for the MnO2-based full cell, maintaining a capacity of 166.2 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1, with a capacity retention rate of 73.2%.