Simultaneous Inhibitions of Volume Variation and Water Decomposition via Interwoven Structure of Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Fibers for Stable Zn Electrode.

Heterogeneous volume expansion and water decomposition-induced zinc (Zn) corrosion are two of the main challenges hindering stable Zn electrodes in rechargeable aqueous Zn batteries (AZBs). Herein, an interwoven structure of hydrophilic/hydrophobic fibers is proposed to address the complex issue of Zn electrode, via a self-assembly process of hydrophobic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers and hydrophilic carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It is revealed that O-containing groups on the carboxylated CNT clusters can improve the Zn desolvation and transfer kinetics, thereby suppressing co-decomposition of water molecules that are further excluded from the structure by the hydrophobic PET fibers, significantly suppressing hydrogen evolution reactions and Zn corrosions.