Highly Stable Zn Anodes Modulated by Selenizing In Situ Grown Metal–Organic Frameworks

The unsatisfactory cycling stability of Zn anode stemming from dendritic growth and side reactions has slowed the rapid development of aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs). Constructing a three-dimensional (3D) artificial interphase layer is an appealing solution since it could dictate Zn deposition at the interface. Here, the in situ growth of a Cu-based metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF) over commercial Zn foil followed by subsequent selenization endows selenized Cu-MOF (SCM) with a stabilized Zn anode. The 3D SCM coating could homogenize the electric field and function as a reservoir to tolerate the deposited Zn. As a result, both rampant dendritic propagation and the notorious side reactions are concurrently inhibited. The SCM@Zn symmetric cell displays an elongated cyclic life for over 500 h at 2.0 mA cm–2. The assembled AZIB full cell readily realizes high electrochemical reversibility under different current densities. Our investigation offers insights into the design of a protective layer for high-performance Zn anodes.