Multiscale Interface Engineering From Atomic Heterojunction to Macroscopic Array for Stable Zinc Metal Anode

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries hold great promise for sustainable energy storage, yet uncontrolled Zn dendrite formation critically limits their cyclability. To address this issue, a type-II band alignment-driven bidirectional heterojunction array is engineered as a multifunctional interface layer for the Zn anode. This multiscale vertical array architecture simultaneously regulates electric field distribution, homogenizes Zn²⁺ ion flux, and mitigates electrodeposition stress, thereby promoting uniform and reversible Zn plating/stripping. As a result, the modified anode achieves a high depth of discharge of 85.5% and sustains stable cycling for over 350 h at 5 mA cm⁻²/5 mAh cm⁻². When paired with an iodine-based cathode, the full cell retains 184.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 10 000 cycles. The use of readily available materials, combined with a scalable fabrication approach and rationally designed multiscale interface, offers a practical and inspiring strategy toward high-performance zinc-based energy storage systems.