Texture Exposure of Unconventional (101)_Zn Facet: Enabling Dendrite-Free Zn Deposition on Metallic Zinc Anodes

Texturing metallic zinc anodes (MZAs) for selective exposure of (002)_Zn plane with high thermodynamical stability is an efficient scheme for dendrite-free Zn electrodeposition. However, fundamental factors that influence Zn deposition morphology via surface crystallographic texture engineering are not well understood. Herein, different from traditional cognition, MZAs with preferential exposure of (101)_Zn facet are demonstrated to be equally effective in promoting dendrite-free Zn deposition, which is enabled by introducing trace amount (0.01 m) of theophylline into ZnSO₄ electrolyte. Experimental results and mathematical model corroborate, indicating mechanistically that the theophylline derived cations preferentially adsorb on the (002)_Zn crystal plane due to higher adsorption energy, thereby accelerating its growth through increased binding affinity with Zn²⁺ ions. Consequently, this phenomenon facilitates the texture exposure of (101)_Zn facet to achieve ordered surface crystallographic orientation of MZAs (101-Zn), thus enabling electrodeposition/dissolution cycling over 650 h under a depth of discharge up to 40% and significantly boosting the rechargeability (76.7% capacity retention after 1000 cycles) of the 101-Zn||carbon-cloth@MnO₂ full battery relative to counterpart without theophylline additive (36.3%). The work offers deep insights on the scientific links between the surface crystallographic orientation of MZAs and Zn deposition morphology, while opens up vast untapped opportunities to realize dendrite-free MZAs.