Strategically Constructing a Hydrophilic Interface toward Ultrastable Zinc Metal Anodes

Aqueous zinc-ion storage devices have received increasing attention due to their inherent safety, high capacity, and cost-effectiveness. However, problems such as uneven Zn deposition, limited diffusion kinetics, and corrosion greatly reduce the cycling performance of zinc anodes. Here, a sulfonate-functionalized boron nitride/graphene oxide (F-BG) buffer layer is designed and utilized to modulate the plating/stripping behavior and mitigate the side reactions with the electrolyte. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of high electronegativity and abundant surface functional groups, the F-BG protective layer accelerates the ordered migration of Zn 2+, homogenizes the Zn 2+ flux, and effectively improves the reversibility of plating and nucleation with strong zincphilicity and dendrite-inhibiting capabilities. Further, electrochemical measurements and cryo-EM observations reveal the mechanism by which the interfacial wettability of the zinc negative electrode acts on capacity and cycling stability. Our work provides deeper insight into the influence of wettability on the energy storage properties and brings forward a facile and instructive way to construct stable zinc anodes for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors.