Nanodiamond Implanted Zinc Metal Anode for Long-Life Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

The practical application of aqueous zinc ion batteries is greatly hindered by the severe dendrite growth and side reactions on the Zn metal anode. To address these challenges, nanodiamond (ND) particles are implanted on the Zn foil surface by a straightforward mechanical rolling process, which serves as heterogeneous seeds, enhancing the cycling stability of Zn metal anode. ND particles with carboxyl groups facilitate the even distribution of electric fields and Zn2+ ions in their vicinity, which promotes the homogeneous deposition of Zn. Moreover, the excellent corrosion resistance of ND particles alleviates the side reactions of the electrode, thus effectively protecting the Zn metal anode in aqueous electrolyte. Benefited from these advantages, the ND@Zn anode shows over 4100 h reversible cycles in symmetric cells, and 99.7% Coulombic efficiency in asymmetric cells. The ND@Zn||MnO2 full cell achieves a stable life of 1000 cycles with 87.0% capacity retention at 1 A g-1 current density. This cost-effective fabrication process holds the potential for scalability, making it amenable to large-scale production of zinc metal anodes. Nanodiamond particles are implanted on the Zn foil surface by a straightforward mechanical rolling process. The nanodiamond particles serve as heterogeneous seeds, which can induce even deposition of Zn and protect the Zn anode from side reaction in the aqueous electrolyte. Benefiting from these advantages, the ND@Zn anode improves the overall performance and lifespan of the battery. image