Electroplating Carbon Nano‐Onion on Copper for Dendrite‐Free and Anode‐Free Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Yufan Zhang, Ramu Banavath, Shegufta Upama, S. S. Deshpande, Huaixuan Cao, Brian R. Stepp, Navid Attarzadeh, Stephnie Peat, Joseph V. Kosmoski, Evan C. Johnson, Micah J. Green
Abstract
Abstract Zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a promising and safer alternative to traditional lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to their cost‐effectiveness, material abundance, and the use of non‐flammable aqueous electrolytes; however, the widespread adoption of ZIBs is still hindered by challenges such as dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and electrode passivation. Herein, the electroplating of carbon nano‐onions (CNOs) and Cu is demonstrated to form a CNO‐embedded‐Cu coating onto Cu foil for use as Zn anode current collectors, which facilitates high zinc plating/stripping efficiency (99.89%) over 1400 cycles. This CNO‐embedded‐Cu coating ensures high conductivity of the substrate surface and stabilizes Zn deposition by embedded CNOs. This CNO@Cu film achieves long‐term cycling with an 85.5% depth of discharge over 176 h, outperforming traditional Cu (102 h). Further, a ZIB fabricated with a CNO@Cu current collector in an anode‐free configuration paired with a zincified NH 4 V 4 O 10 cathode demonstrates a high volumetric energy density of 194.8 Wh L −1 . CNO@Cu offers a low‐cost, scalable, and high‐performance solution for industrial anode‐free ZIBs, and this work sets the foundation for future improvements in ZIBs by utilizing cost‐effective, industrial‐grade nanomaterials.