PUBLICATION

Advanced Soft Energy Materials Lab

Publication

Publication

72. Harnessing Polymer Matrix Hydrophilicity in Structurally Robust Zincophilic Composite Layers for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors
Yanghyun Cho†, Dong Won Hae†, Hyeong Jun Kook, Jongha Hwang, Dong Ok Shin*, Woo-Jin Song*
미래원천 창의전문연구실 (25YB2200), 우수신진연구 (NRF-2022R1C1C1009974)
Journal
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Date
(2026.06), JCR: 18.04%, IF: 8.2
Year
2026
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Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) represent promising next-generation energy-storage systems owing to their intrinsic safety afforded by water-based electrolytes, low material costs, and high theoretical capacity. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth with nonuniform Zn2+ flux at the electrode–electrolyte interface severely impedes their practical implementation. In this work, we develop a zincophilic–hydrophilic polymer composite layer to regulate Zn deposition via coordinated ionic and electronic transport. The integration of the hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) with a zincophilic carbon black filler forms an ionically and electronically conductive protective layer on the Zn anode. This zincophilic polymer composite (ZLPC) layer facilitates efficient electrolyte wetting throughout the composite network, thereby activating internal zincophilic sites and homogenizing Zn2+ flux across the electrode–electrolyte interface. This synergistic ionic and electronic regulation mitigates localized current density and induces uniform Zn nucleation, yielding dendrite-free Zn deposition. Consequently, the ZLPC@Zn anode achieves a cycling life exceeding 3000 h at 4 mA cm–2, with a cumulative plating capacity of 2400 mAh cm–2. Furthermore, ZLPC@Zn pouch cells exhibit a volumetric energy density of 17.92 Wh L–1, demonstrating strong potential for practical AZIB applications. This study presents a scalable, cost-effective interfacial engineering strategy for high-performance AZIBs.