Towards Understanding the Corrosion Behavior of Zinc‐Metal Anode in Aqueous Systems: From Fundamentals to Strategies

Abstract

Abstract Owing to the properties of cost‐efficient, high‐energy density and environmental friendliness, rechargeable aqueous zinc‐metal batteries (RAZMBs) are promising candidates for the next generation metal‐based batteries in large‐scale energy storage systems. However, the practical applications of RAZMBs are severely limited due to the presence of inevitable side reactions referring to zinc corrosion and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurring at the electrode‐electrolyte interface. The uninterrupted interfacial side reactions at the expense of continuous capacity fading and reduced reversibility of zinc are required to give more attention to mitigate them. Given the above concerns, in this review, the fundamental principles of corrosion thermodynamics and kinetics of zinc electrodes in aqueous media are elucidated. Furthermore, the recent optimization strategies targeting enhanced stability of zinc electrodes are reviewed including electrolyte additives, zinc alloying, electrodeposited Zn and coating treatments. Finally, considering the current main research orientations, some perspectives are provided to facilitate the development of future applications of zinc anodes.