Recent Advances in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

TLDR

Current lithium‑ion batteries face resource, cost, and safety limits, prompting interest in aqueous zinc‑ion batteries that offer safer, cheaper, and environmentally friendly energy storage. This review highlights recent advances in aqueous ZIBs and proposes advanced strategies to address remaining challenges. The review discusses design of highly reversible Zn anodes, electrolyte optimization, diverse cathode chemistries, and advanced techniques to improve performance. The review outlines future perspectives and research directions for advancing aqueous ZIB technology.

Abstract

Although current high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have taken over the commercial rechargeable battery market, increasing concerns about limited lithium resources, high cost, and insecurity of organic electrolyte scale-up limit their further development. Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), an alternative battery chemistry, have paved the way not only for realizing environmentally benign and safe energy storage devices but also for reducing the manufacturing costs of next-generation batteries. This Review underscores recent advances in aqueous ZIBs; these include the design of a highly reversible Zn anode, optimization of the electrolyte, and a wide range of cathode materials and their energy storage mechanisms. We also present recent advanced techniques that aim at overcoming the current issues in aqueous ZIB systems. This Review on the future perspectives and research directions will provide a guide for future aqueous ZIB study.