The sever side reactions and rampant dendrite growth on the zinc (Zn) electrode significantly hinder the practical applications of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Herein, we fabricate a multifunctional interfacial layer composed of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and polyanionic gel featuring ion-sieving and ion-regulating capabilities that effectively protects the Zn anode. The abundant -SO3- groups in polyanionic gel optimize the Zn2+ solvent sheath structure and simultaneously possess ion-sieving function, which significantly facilitate Zn2+ migration.The lignin derivatives pre-adsorb onto the Zn anode surface, guiding nucleation along the Zn (002) plane and providing electrostatic shielding effects to facilitate uniform Zn2+ deposition. In addition, polyanionic gel inhibits water activity by forming strong hydrogen bonds with water, while the PVDF layer adjacent to Zn electrode side significantly reduces the free water-induced side reactions. Consequently, the Zn electrodes with this protective layer demonstrated stable and efficient deposition/stripping behavior over a wide range of current densities. The Zn||NaV3O8·1.5H2O full cells demonstrate remarkable cycling stability, maintaining the capacity of 176.1 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1 and 101.2 mAh g-1 after 2500 cycles at 10 A g-1. This innovative strategy offers a promising approach to develop high-performance AZIBs.
Keywords: aqueous zinc-ion batteries * interfacial layer * side reaction inhibition * dendrite free.
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