2D Mesoporous Zincophilic Sieve for High-Rate Sulfur-Based Aqueous Zinc Batteries

Abstract

Sulfur-based aqueous zinc batteries (SZBs) attract increasing interest due to their integrated high capacity, competitive energy density, and low cost. However, the hardly reported anodic polarization seriously deteriorates the lifespan and energy density of SZBs at a high current density. Here, we develop an integrated acid-assisted confined self-assembly method (ACSA) to elaborate a two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous zincophilic sieve (2DZS) as the kinetic interface. The as-prepared 2DZS interface presents a unique 2D nanosheet morphology with abundant zincophilic sites, hydrophobic properties, and small-sized mesopores. Therefore, the 2DZS interface plays a bifunctional role in reducing the nucleation and plateau overpotential: (a) accelerating the Zn2+ diffusion kinetics through the opened zincophilic channels and (b) inhibiting the kinetic competition of hydrogen evolution and dendrite growth via the significant solvation-sheath sieving effect. Therefore, the anodic polarization is reduced to 48 mV at 20 mA cm-2, and the full-battery polarization is reduced to 42% of an unmodified SZB. As a result, an ultrahigh energy density of 866 Wh kgsulfur-1 at 1 A g-1 and a long lifespan of 10,000 cycles at a high rate of 8 A g-1 are achieved.