Rationally Engineering Stable Zinc Anodes Via Multi‐Functional Additive Toward High‐Performance Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries

Abstract The development of functional and stable aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) is critical for application in large‐scale energy storage, owing to their high capacity, low cost, and environmental compatibility. However, the limited reversibility of zinc plating/stripping and the poor cycling stability of the zinc interface in aqueous electrolytes remain major obstacles. Herein, triethylene glycol (TEG) is introduced as a multifunctional additive, whose hydroxyl groups coordinate with Zn ² ⁺ in the primary solvation sheath while forming a protective layer on the zinc surface. Supported by theoretical modeling and systematic characterizations, TEG is shown to suppress direct H ₂ O interaction with the (002) zinc surface, thereby reducing corrosion, dendrite growth, and hydrogen evolution, while enabling uniform Zn ² ⁺ deposition. Consequently, symmetric Zn||Zn cells with TEG achieve over 5800 h of cycling at 0.5 mA cm ⁻² , and Zn||NVO full cells exhibit excellent capacity retention. This study aims to motivate a rational and facile strategy for creating stable interface chemistry focused on protecting the metal anode, ultimately improving the practical uses of aqueous batteries.