Comprehensive Review of Electrolyte Modification Strategies for Stabilizing Zn Metal Anodes

Abstract In response to the need of sustainable development, there is an increasing demand for electrical energy storage, leading to a stimulated pursuit of advanced batteries. Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted much attention due to their low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. Despite the great efforts made by researchers in designing and developing high‐performance AZIBs, several challenges remain. Particularly for Zn anode, the growth of zinc dendrites and occurance of various side reactions significantly hinder the advancement of AZIBs. This review article aims to discuss the principles of AZIBs, the electrolyte's structure and properties, the challenges faced by AZIBs anodesm and the strategies to improve battery performance through electrolyte modification in a systematic manner. In conclusion, potential future directions aimed at enhancing the stability of zinc anodes and cathodes by electrolyte modification strategies are proposed to ensure that research efforts are geared toward achieving realistic performance targets for commercializing AZIBs.