Morphology study of electrodeposited zinc from zinc sulfate solutions as anode for zinc-air and zinc-carbon batteries

The morphology of Zinc (Zn) deposits was investigated as anode for aqueous batteries. The Zn was deposited from zinc sulfate solution in direct current conditions on a copper surface at different current densities. The morphology characterization of Zn deposits was performed via field emission scanning electron microscopy. The Zn deposits transformed from a dense and compact structure to dendritic form with increasing current density. The electrodeposition of Zn with a current density of 0.02 A cm−2 exhibited good morphology with a high charge efficiency that reached up to 95.2%. The Zn deposits were applied as the anode in zinc–air and zinc–carbon batteries, which gave specific discharge capacities of 460 and 300 mA h g−1, respectively.