A Doubly-Coordinated Camphor Derivative Enables Ultralong-Life Textured Zn Metal Anodes for High-Performance Aqueous Batteries

The practical deployment of aqueous zinc-ion batteries is severely hindered by parasitic reactions and dendrite growth at the zinc metal anode, making advanced electrolyte engineering a critical pursuit. In this work, an efficient camphor-derived electrolyte additive, sodium camphorsulfonate, was developed to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries by synergistically regulating the Zn2+ ion solvation microenvironment and directing the strong Zn(002) deposition texture. The efficacy of the trace sodium camphorsulfonate additive is demonstrated by an ultralong cycling lifespan of 7450 h and a cumulative plated capacity of 11.2 Ah cm–2 for Zn||Zn symmetric cells (3 mA cm–2, 1 mAh cm–2), and is further corroborated by the 72.5% capacity retention of Zn||V2O5·nH2O full cells after 2000 cycles at 2 A g–1. This study establishes a paradigm for harnessing natural compounds in electrolyte engineering, thereby guiding the development of sustainable, high-performance batteries.