Anti-corrosive and highly reversible zinc metal anode enabled by the phenolic resin coating

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have attracted much attention due to their high theoretical capacity, low cost, high safety, and eco-friendly. However, challenges such as dendrite growth and side reactions severely hinder the electrochemical performance of the Zn anode, leading to low Coulombic efficiency (CE) or even short circuits. Herein, phenolic resin (PF) is used as a protective coating on the surface of the zinc metal electrode. The PF layer can greatly improve the corrosion resistance of the Zn electrode in the electrolyte. Importantly, this artificial electrode/electrolyte interphase also elevates the nucleation barrier and restrains Zn²⁺ 2D diffusion, regulating the zinc deposition/dissolution behavior. As a result, PF@Zn symmetric cells exhibit superior performance than that of bare Zn symmetric cells, achieving a stable and dendrite-free cycle of 1400 h. Furthermore, the carbon nanotube/MnO₂||PF@Zn (CNT/MnO₂||PF@Zn) full cell also delivers a long cycle life with a high-capacity retention of about 180.0 mAh·g⁻¹ after 1400 cycles, far exceeding that of bare Zn anode. This work provides a facile strategy for achieving a dendrite-free and rechargeable zinc anode.