2026-02-25 パシフィック・ノースウェスト国立研究所（PNNL）
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/interlayer-design-orientational-control-during-electrodeposition
- https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202503218
ポリマーと基板の結合による金属析出の核形成段階の制御による電極平滑化の実現 Achieving Electrode Smoothing by Controlling the Nucleation Phase of Metal Deposition Through Polymer-Substrate Binding
Ying Xia, Duo Song, Mingyi Zhang, Zheming Wang, Chenyang Shi, Jingshan S. Du, Sun Hae Ra Shin, Mark H. Engelhard, Praveen K. Thallapally, Christine A. Orme, Jinhui Tao, …
Advanced Materials Published: 23 September 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202503218
Abstract
Polymer additives [like polyethylene oxide (PEO)] are widely used for smooth electrode deposition in aqueous zinc and many other battery systems. However, the precise mechanism by which they regulate morphology and suppress dendrite formation remains unclear. In this study, the knowledge gap is addressed by using in situ electrochemical atomic force microscopy to directly observe the interfacial evolution during Zn electrodeposition and polymer adsorption on Cu substrates in the presence of varying concentrations of ZnSO4 and PEO. Contrary to previous literature assumptions, which emphasize the binding to the growing Zn crystal surfaces or Zn2+ ions, the results demonstrate that PEO smooths Zn films by promoting nucleation of (002)-oriented Zn platelets through interactions with the Cu substrate. Density functional theory simulations support this finding by showing that PEO adsorption on Cu modifies the interfacial energy of Zn/Cu/electrolyte interfaces, favoring the stabilization of Zn (002) on the Cu substrate, as well as confines Zn electrodeposition to a narrow near-surface region. These findings elucidate a novel design principle for electrode smoothing, emphasizing the importance of substrate selection paired with polymer additives that exhibit an attractive interaction with the substrate but minimal interaction with growing crystals, offering a mechanistic perspective for improved battery performance.
