Synergistic Grain Refinement and Crystal Plane Reconstruction via Shot‐Peening for Highly Reversible Zn Anodes

ABSTRACT

Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are expected to become one of the most promising candidates for large‐scale energy storage, but are impeded by uncontrollable dendrite growth and parasitic reactions. In this study, we propose a simple mechanical shot‐peening (SP) approach for restructuring commercial Zn foils into highly exposed (002)‐textured crystal planes while inducing grain refinement. The SP process effectively eliminates the surface passivation layer and structural defects, enhances the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the electrode surface, and provides abundant active sites for Zn nucleation. This promotes homogeneous and smooth deposition of zinc and ensures a uniformly distributed electric field, thereby suppressing dendrite growth and reducing side reactions. Consequently, the SP‐treated Zn (SP‐Zn) anode enables a symmetric cell that exhibits impressive reversibility and stable cycling for over 5000 h at 2 mA cm ⁻² , and an SP‐Zn||MnVO full cell delivers 81% capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 5 A g ⁻¹ . This simple and cost‐effective SP strategy offers a practical approach to fabricating high‐performance Zn metal anodes, providing a scalable strategy for practical AZIB applications.