Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries: Mechanism, design strategies and future perspectives

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered to be one of the most promising energy storage devices for grid-scale applications due to their high safety, eco-friendliness, and low cost. In recent years, enormous efforts have been devoted to developing a great number of high-efficient cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes for improving the electrochemical properties of aqueous ZIBs. However, the as-documented ZIBs and their associated energy storage mechanisms are still in infancy and need to be further investigated for real practice. To expedite the development of ZIBs, this review will offer a comprehensive summary and a detailed discussion of the significant progress and breakthroughs. A brief overview of the battery configuration and various energy storage mechanisms are first introduced. The following emphasis will be mainly dedicated to discussing different design strategies regarding cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, aiming to provide insightful design principles for future research activities from a fundamental perspective. Finally, the current challenges of developing high-performance ZIBs and their opportunities for practical viability are discussed.