In situ construction of anti-corrosion structure via intermediate carbon cloth for long-life zinc anode

The work proposed a new insight into in situ construction of anti-corrosion structure via intermediate carbon cloth for long-life zinc anode, featuring the regulation of byproduct growth and the inhibition of HER. [Display omitted] •Intermediate carbon cloth undertook most of the anode reactions after activation.•The growth of ZHS byproduct on intermediate carbon cloth was effectively regulated.•The regulated ZHS byproduct in turn suppressed parasitic reaction.•Long cycling life was obtained for the incorporation of carbon cloth with Zn metal. Metallic zinc is regarded as an ideal anode in aqueous batteries, while the poor life associated with the ever-deepening interface corrosion and dendrite growth severely restricts the practical application. Herein, in situ construction of anti-corrosion structure via intermediate carbon cloth is developed to realize stable Zn deposition for long-life utilization. During the repeated charge and discharge, anode reactions including Zn plating and the parasitic reactions are gradually transferred to the intermediate carbon surface, and the growth of byproduct (zinc hydroxide sulfate, also ZHS) is regulated as a lateral pattern. This stable interface growth activates the stabilizing effect from ZHS and makes it an anti-corrosion structure for further Zn deposition. Meanwhile, such a layer also effectively adsorbs Zn atoms for the uniform nucleation and growth. As a result, over 3200 h of stable Zn plating/stripping is realized at a practical current density of 1 mA cm−2, and both the reaction current and the capacity can be stably extended to 10 mA cm−2 and 10 mAh cm−2. This work redefines the stabilizing effect of conductive interphase layer, and provides a new insight into the growth regulation of ZHS byproduct and the self anti-corrosion effect.