3D tin whisker network enabling high-performance aqueous dendrite-free zinc anodes

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer high safety, low cost, and environmental compatibility, yet their large-scale deployment is hindered by dendrite growth and severe side reactions arising from non-uniform Zn 2+ deposition. Constructing artificial interphase layers (AILs) to regulate Zn 2+ nucleation and growth has emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate these issues. One-dimensional (1D) Sn metal, featuring a high specific surface area, tunable structure, strong zinc affinity, and high hydrogen evolution overpotential, is an ideal candidate for interphase engineering. However, existing synthesis methods for 1D Sn, which rely on template-assisted electrodeposition, face challenges in scalability. In this work, Sn whiskers are synthesized via the mechanochemical decomposition of the Ti 2 SnC MAX phase and employed to construct a three-dimensional (3D) Sn whisker network as an artificial interphase layer on zinc anodes (Sn whisker@Zn). This continuous network effectively guides Zn 2+ migration and deposition, promotes preferential growth along the (002) crystal plane, reduces local current density, and suppresses dendrite formation. Simultaneously, it retards corrosion and inhibits the formation of by-products. Symmetric cells based on Sn whisker@Zn anodes exhibit exceptional cycling stability, sustaining over 1600 h of stable operation at 1 mA cm −2 with a capacity of 0.5 mAh cm −2 , and exceeding 1000 h at a high current density of 10 mA cm −2 . Moreover, the Sn whisker@Zn||NH 4 V 4 O 10 full cell retains 89.94 % of its capacity after 1400 cycles at 5 A g −1 , demonstrating strong application potential. This approach provides a scalable and effective strategy for developing durable zinc anodes, advancing the prospects of AZIBs in energy storage systems.