Stable Imprinted Zincophilic Zn Anodes with High Capacity

Stable Zn anode capable of working at high currents and high capacities remains a great challenge. Although construction of 3D Zn frameworks can achieve improved cycling properties to some extent, they are usually combined with low energy density, complex fabrication process, and high cost. Herein, a zincophilic Zn foil with 3D micropatterns utilizing a simple and scalable imprinting strategy with predesigned mold by femtosecond laser is reported. The imprinting induced microchannels with enhanced Zn²⁺ affinity not only effectively regulate the Zn²⁺ ions concentration distribution, but also prevent the short circuit from vertical dendrite growth. As a result, the imprinted zincophilic Zn foil can steadily work for over 100 h at high current density/capacity of 10 mA cm⁻²/10 mAh cm⁻², which is superior compared to bare Zn. The generality of the imprinting strategy is further revealed with large-scale Zn–ion batteries and various zincophilic materials, demonstrating a promising route for practical applications.