A surface engineering strategy for zinc metal anodes: Aminoethylethanolamine-based interfacial layer for corrosion resistance and zinc ion regulation

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as one of the promising next-generation technologies as alternative energy storage solutions for Li-ion batteries. These systems utilize water as electrolyte solvent to eliminate the risks of thermal runaway and explosion, while offering economic and environmental advantages over Li-based energy systems. Despite these benefits, AZIBs face significant commercialization challenges due to their limited electrochemical reversibility caused by hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and dendritic crystal growth during charge-discharge cycles. This study aims to address the aforementioned issues by exploring the influence of an aminoethylethanolamine (AEEA)-containing functional solution, called light stabilizer (LS)-123, to construct an artificial interfacial layer (AIL) on the zinc metal anode. AEEA adheres to the zinc metal surface through its hydroxyl group, exposing the hydrophilic amine group at the electrode-electrolyte interphase. This protective layer disrupts the solvation of zinc ions, preventing water molecules from reaching the zinc metal surface while enabling uniform zinc ion deposition. The results indicate that zinc-symmetric cells incorporating LS-123 achieve a polarization potential of 91 mV and demonstrate stable cycling performance for 1000 h at a current density of 1 mA cm-2. In addition, a full-cell configuration with activated carbon as the cathode exhibits robust electrochemical reversibility, maintaining a capacity retention of 99 % over 1000 cycles. This study highlights the potential of AEEA as a surface modifier to enhance corrosion resistance and modulate zinc ion deposition. It provides an effective strategy for stabilizing the electrode-electrolyte interface and improving costeffectiveness and electrochemical performance.