Molecular Interfacial Chelation Enables Wide‐Temperature Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

In the past few years, aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted considerable interest as a grid‐scale energy storage technology. Nonetheless, the wide‐temperature performance of AZIBs remains greatly restricted, mainly as a result of side reactions, dendrite growth, and sluggish kinetics. Here, a trace amount of amino acid‐chelated zinc additive (zinc methionine sulfate) effectively enhances the wide‐temperature adaptability of AZIBs from −20 to 60 °C through a unique ion‐buffering reservoir mechanism. The additive release Zn ²⁺ in the microenvironment of the electrode/electrolyte interface, forming a zinc‐rich ion buffer reservoir. The high Zn ²⁺ concentrations at anode surface provide adequate Zn ²⁺ even at high current densities, suppressing dendrite growth and side reactions caused by rapid depletion of Zn ²⁺ . Moreover, the additive also induces preferential deposition on the Zn(002) crystallographic plane and participates in forming a uniform and zincophilic solid electrolyte interphase. Thereby, Zn||Zn cells with designed electrolyte exhibit cycle lifetimes of 3772 h (−20 °C), 1980 h (25 °C), and 410 h (60 °C). The Zn||Zn _x V ₂ O ₅ ·nH ₂ O full cell with designed electrolyte demonstrates an initial discharge capacity of 180.8 mA h g ⁻¹ and a capacity retention of 82.0% after 3000 cycles at −20 °C.