High-surface-area titanium nitride nanosheets as zinc anode coating for dendrite-free rechargeable aqueous batteries

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have become attractive energy storage devices, owing to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the stability of the zinc-metal anode has been retarded by dendrites and side reactions during the cycling process, limiting its practical application in secondary batteries. In this work, porous titanium nitride (TiN) nanosheets with a high surface area are demonstrated as a multiple-function anode coating to realize long-term dendrite-free AZIBs. The TiN nanosheets with the features of high specific surface area and metallic properties optimize electron conduction and zinc-ion flux, lowering the polarization on the electrode surface. In this way, the TiN-coated zinc electrodes exhibit a long cycle performance for more than 600 h without any dendrite formation. In addition, the full AZIB assembly based on the TiN-coated zinc electrode has a stable cycling performance for over 600 cycles with 97.04% capacity retention. This work expands applications of the inorganic porous materials as protective layers in high-energy battery systems. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].