Photocurable 3D‐Printed Zinc Alloy Anodes: A Topology‐Guided Dendrite‐Suppressing Design for High‐Rate Zinc Batteries

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Authors: Wanggen Xie, Ning Wang, Nana Li, Jia Jiang, Bozhi Li, Derek Ho, Haibo Hu, Funian Mo
Cited by: 3
References: 48

Abstract

ABSTRACT 3D structured zinc anodes can regulate electric fields and inhibit dendrite growth to stabilize the electrodeposition/stripping behaviors. However, it is generally difficult to achieve uniform Zn deposition on complex 3D architectures, and their high surface area and strong electrochemical activity make them prone to side reactions, thus significantly degrading cycling stability. Herein, we propose a topological electrode design strategy that integrates rapid photocuring‐based 3D printing with alloy engineering to regulate zinc electrodeposition/stripping behaviors. The 3D architecture framework provides a continuous and conductive scaffold with tailored topology, guiding uniform Zn nucleation and minimizing local current density. Moreover, the introduction of nanoscale ZnCu alloying layer further reduces nucleation overpotential and promotes reversible Zn plating/stripping on the (002)‐oriented surface. Benefiting from this topology‐guided design, a phototype with the Zn@Cu‐6 anode exhibits outstanding electrochemical stability, sustaining 340 h of cycling at 10 mA cm −2 and 1 mAh cm −2 in symmetric cells. When paired with a V 2 O 5 cathode, the full cell delivers remarkable rate capability and long‐term durability, maintaining 96.4% capacity retention after 1963 cycles at 20 A g −1 . This work demonstrates that rational topological architecture and alloy interfacial engineering offer a powerful pathway toward dendrite‐free and high‐rate zinc batteries.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced battery technologies research Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Advancements in Battery Materials

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Functional Materials
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
36
Issue
45
Publication date
9 April 2026
Language
EN