Strategies for Optimizing the Zn Anode/Electrolyte Interfaces Toward Stable Zn-Based Batteries

Aqueous rechargeable Zn-ion batteries (ARZIBs) have attracted extensive attention because of the advantages of high energy density, high safety, and low cost. However, the commercialization of ARZIBs is still challenging, mainly because of the low efficiency of Zn anodes. Several undesirable reactions (e.g., Zn dendrite and byproduct formation) always occur at the Zn anode/electrolyte interfaces, resulting in low Coulombic efficiency and rapid decay of ARZIBs. Motivated by the great interest in addressing these issues, various optimization strategies and related mechanisms have been proposed to stabilize the Zn anode-electrolyte interfaces and enlengthen the cycling lifespan of ARZIBs. Therefore, considering the rapid development of this field, updating the optimization strategies in a timely manner and understanding their protection mechanisms are highly necessary. This review provides a brief overview of the Zn anode/electrolyte interfaces from the fundamentals and challenges of Zn anode chemistry to related optimization strategies and perspectives. Specifically, these strategies are systematically summarized and classified, while several representative works are presented to illustrate the effect and corresponding mechanism in detail. Finally, future challenges and research directions for the Zn anode/electrolyte interfaces are comprehensively clarified, providing guidelines for accurate evaluation of the interfaces and further fostering the development of ARZIBs. This review systematically summarizes the optimization strategies for building stable Zn metal anode-aqueous electrolyte interfaces, mainly including constructing artificial interphase, texturing, and electrolyte engineering. This review is anticipated to provide guidance for optimizing the Zn anode-electrolyte interfaces, which could draw more attention to the investigation of the interfacial chemistry of Zn metal anodes.image