Biomimetic Lipid-Bilayer Anode Protection for Long Lifetime Aqueous Zinc-Metal Batteries

The practical application of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries is impeded by dendrite growth, especially at high areal capacities and high current densities. Here, this challenge is addressed by proposing zinc perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic (Zn(PES)₂) as a zinc battery electrolyte. This new amphipathic zinc salt, with a hydrophobic perfluorinated tail, can form an anode protecting layer, in situ, with a biomimetic lipid-bilayer structure. The layer limits the anode contact with free H₂O and offers fast Zn²⁺ transport pathways, thereby effectively suppressing dendrite growth while maintaining high rate capability. A stable, Zn²⁺-conductive fluorinated solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is also formed, further enhancing zinc reversibility. The electrolyte enables unprecedented cycling stability with dendrite-free zinc plating/stripping over 1600 h at 1 mA cm⁻² at 2 mAh cm⁻², and over 380 h under an even harsher condition of 2.5 mA cm⁻² and 5 mAh cm⁻². Full cell tests with a high-loading VS₂ cathode demonstrate good capacity retention of 78% after 1000 cycles at 1.5 mA cm⁻². The idea of in situ formation of a biomimetic lipid-bilayer anode protecting layer and fluorinated SEI opens a new route for engineering the electrode–electrolyte interface toward next-generation aqueous zinc batteries with long lifetime and high areal capacities.