Synergistic nanoconfinement-capture strategy enabled by aminosilanized halloysite nanotubes for robust Zn anode interfaces

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) face critical challenges due to the formation of severe Zn dendrites and parasitic reactions at unstable interfaces. Here, we develop an aminosilanized halloysite nanotube (AHNT)-based coating that employs a distinctive “nanoconfinement-capture” strategy: the tubular framework spatially confines Zn 2+ diffusion, while surface amino groups chemically capture the ions, working synergistically to enable dendrite-free Zn deposition. This approach delivers outstanding stability (2600 h in Zn||Zn cells with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.74 %) and demonstrates practical full-cell performance (253 mA h g −1 at 3C with 71.86 % capacity retention over 1200 cycles). This strategy substantially broadens the functional scope of conventional protective coatings, offering novel design principles for the application of clay minerals in Zn anode engineering and presenting significant implications for the advancement of aqueous zinc battery technology.