Bo‐Hao Xiao, Yinxiang Zeng, Kang Xiao, Xinwen Peng, Shunsheng Cao, Christopher A. Howard, Zhao‐Qing Liu
Abstract Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs), characterized by high theoretical capacity, cost‐effectiveness, and environmental friendliness, hold promising prospects in large‐scale energy storage. However, the slow desolvation process of hydrated Zn 2+ leads to unstable Zn 2+ ion flow and further hinders uniform Zn deposition. Moreover, the release of active H 2 O during the desolvation process will exacerbate the hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, a zincophilic and electrophilic amide is introduced as a stabilizer to Zn 2+ flow by optimizing the desolvation process of hydrated Zn 2+ . The amide molecules enter the solvation structure of Zn 2+ through acyl coordination sites, reducing the desolvation energy barrier, hence facilitating uniform Zn deposition. Moreover, electrophilic amino groups effectively suppress hydrogen evolution by capturing active H 2 O. As a result, a symmetric cell with thioacetamide additive exhibits a remarkable lifespan of 2000 h at 1 mA/1 mAh cm −2 . Even with an increased current density of 5 mA cm −2 , the cell maintains stable cycling for 1000 h. This study offers a novel perspective on the crucial factors contributing to the irreversible growth of Zn dendrites in ZIBs, providing valuable insights for the development of electrolyte additives.