Tailoring Piezoelectric Materials for High Energy Density Batteries: Fundamentals, Advances, and Perspectives

High-energy-density rechargeable batteries are plagued by electrode polarization, unstable interfaces, and parasitic side reactions, which severely restrict their electrochemical performance across diverse battery chemistries. Piezoelectric materials can construct dynamic built-in electric fields via mechanical or electrochemical excitation, showing great potential to modulate ion migration, interfacial charge behavior, and reaction kinetics for optimized battery performance. In this review, we first outline the fundamental physical principles and material classification of piezoelectric materials, followed by a comprehensive summary of how the piezoelectric effect manifests differently when piezoelectric materials are integrated into a variety of battery components. Within electrode materials, piezoelectricity can accelerate interfacial ion diffusion, enhance redox reaction kinetics, and suppress undesirable side reactions through built-in electric fields. On the anode side, the piezoelectric polarization field serves as an additional driving force to regulate ion flux and promote homogeneous metal deposition, thereby mitigating dendrite growth. In electrolytes and separators, piezoelectric materials can enhance ionic conductivity, stabilize electrode/electrolyte interfaces, and homogenize ion distribution, leading to improved electrochemical stability and reaction reversibility. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are discussed to guide the rational design and practical implementation of piezoelectric-enabled strategies for rechargeable energy-storage systems featuring enhanced safety, prolonged service life, and high energy density.