Seed-Promoted Patch-Like Deposition for Dynamic Protection and Ion Transport Synergy to Achieve Stable Zinc-Powder Anodes.

Zinc powder-based anodes hold great promise for rechargeable zinc-ion batteries due to their low cost and tunability. However, issues such as corrosion and uncontrolled dendrite growth hinder their practical applications. Specifically, the key challenge lies in firmly anchoring zincophilic sites on non-planar zinc particles while adapting to their volume and structural changes during deposition and stripping. This work presents an innovative seed-promoted patch-like deposition strategy which dynamically generates a protective film, enabling a stable zinc powder anode. The rational implantation of zincophilic nucleation sites induces a unique film with patch-like morphology on the zinc powder surface, creating a flexible, scale-armor-inspired protective layer that conforms to the curvature of zinc powder particle. This engineered structure serves as a dynamic barrier that buffers mechanical stress from structural changes and stabilizes Zn deposition/stripping. Moreover, the inter-patch gaps form extra ion-transport channels and optimize the current distribution on the zinc powder surface. As a result, the assembled symmetrical cells achieve ultra-stable operation for ≈1,600 h, and excellent durability even at a high depth of discharge (DOD) of 75%. This work provides valuable insights into the rational design of cost-effective, high-performance zinc powder anodes, paving the way for their practical implementation in next-generation zinc-ion batteries.