Zn–Sn alloy anode with repressible dendrite grown and meliorative corrosion resistance for Zn-air battery

Zinc (Zn) based metal-air battery has been considered as one of promising candidates for the next-generation batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity and abundant reserve. However, Zn electrode is susceptible to dendrite growth and corrosion depravation in the long cycling process, causing capacity decline and short lifespan. Herein, a novel zinc-stannum (Zn–Sn) alloy electrode has been facilely prepared through powder sintering technology to restrain the dendrite growing and promote the corrosion resistance. Compared with pure Zn foil electrode, the optimized Zn–Sn10 alloy electrode exhibited a lower voltage hysteresis of 119 mV and a better topography with non-dendrite after cycling 400 h at 0.5 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the Zn corrosion resistance in alkaline electrolyte has been significantly improved. Theoretical calculations also account for these superiorities by the uniform charge distribution in the superficial ZnSn layer. As a result, the assembled Zn-air battery based on Zn–Sn alloy anode electrode showed satisfactory power density, rate properties and cycling life. This research provides a facile and cost-efficient strategy to stabilize Zn anode and holds great promise in developing high-performance rechargeable Zn-based battery energy systems.