Fig. 3: Characterization of zinc orientations under various plating/stripping conditions.

A X-ray diffraction patterns of zinc plated at different current densities (0.65–130 mA cm⁻²) on a copper current collector with CuNPs sputtered at 200 W. The zinc loading capacity was 0.85 mAh cm⁻². B Peak intensity ratio of Zn(002)/Zn(100), as a function of the deposition current density and CuNPs modification. C SEM images of the anode cross-section. Inset: a photo of the anode 1 cm in diameter. D Voltage during zinc plating on the bare Cu versus CuNPs-modified current collector, at a current density of 130 mA cm⁻². E Voltage at the 1000^th redox cycle on the CuNPs-modified current collector, at a current density of 26 mA cm⁻². F Peak intensity ratio of Zn(002)/Zn(100) measured on the sample in part e. G Coulombic efficiency as a function of redox cycles and plating/stripping current densities, on the bare Cu (red) and CuNPs-modified (black) current collectors. At 100% state-of-charge, the anode capacity was 0.85 mAh cm⁻², measured with an electrolyte of 200 µL 15 M ZnCl₂.