Prussian Blue Analogues in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Mechanisms of Failure, Pathways to Stabilization, and Routes to Practical Performance

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have emerged as promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their low cost, simple aqueous synthesis, open-framework structures, and favorable Zn 2+ storage properties. To date, most studies have emphasized material-level optimization, including control of vacancies, hydration, particle morphology, and ion substitution. However, their performance in full battery systems is often constrained by intrinsic failure modes, synthetic variability, and the absence of common benchmarks. This perspective critically examines the opportunities and limitations of PBAs in AZIBs, highlighting the structural and electrochemical parameters that govern their stability and capacity, as well as the degradation pathways that compromise durability. Looking ahead, PBAs hold the potential to become true model frameworks for multivalent-ion storage: their structural diversity enables rational design, their scalability aligns with industrial needs, and their tunability offers unique opportunities to merge fundamental chemistry with applied energy technologies. By integrating advances in materials design with electrolyte co-engineering and community-wide standards, PBAs can transition from model systems to reliable components of sustainable and scalable AZIB technologies.