The Design of Interfacial Organic-Riched Phase by Molecular Interlocking for Stable Zn Anodes.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising energy storage devices due to their high safety and environmental friendliness. However, they suffer from some issues in Zn anodes, including dendrites, hydrogen evolution reaction, and byproducts. Herein, an organic-riched phase (ORP) layer was constructed on Zn anode by introducing sodium anthraquinone-1-sulfonate (AQS) into the aqueous electrolyte with ethylene glycol (EG). In such an electrolyte, the zincophilic -SO groups of AQS molecules preferentially adsorb on Zn anodes, and stable chemical bonds are achieved between them. After that, the low-polarity and hydrophobic anthraquinone group in the AQS layer tends to repel HO molecules. Simultaneously, more AQS and EG molecules are attracted and migrate toward AQS layer due to polar compatibility, constructing the AQS/EG-riched layer on the Zn anode by the interlocking effect among them. When Zn solvated structures migrate through the ORP layer on Zn anode surface, AQS and EG molecules enter Zn solvated structures, and thus, the solvated HO molecules are removed. As a result, hydrogen evolution and side reactions were significantly suppressed, and the Coulombic efficiency of Zn anodes during plating/stripping process reached 99.56%. To illustrate the feasibility of the ORP layer, Zn||VO full cells were assembled and exhibited superior cycling performance.