Recent progress of dendrite-free stable zinc anodes for advanced zinc-based rechargeable batteries: Fundamentals, challenges, and perspectives

Zinc-based batteries are a very promising class of next-generation electrochemical energy storage systems, with high safety, eco-friendliness, abundant resources, and the absence of rigorous manufacturing conditions. However, practical applications of zinc-based rechargeable batteries are impeded by the low Coulombic efficiency, inferior cyclability, and poor rate capability, due to the instability of zinc anode. Herein, effective strategies for dendrite-free zinc anode are symmetrically reviewed, especially highlighting specific mechanisms, delicate design of electrode and current collectors, controlled electrode|electrolyte interface, ameliorative electrolytes, and advanced separators design. First, the particular mechanisms of dendrites formation and the associated fundamentals of the stable Zn metal anodes are presented elaborately. Then, recent key strategies for dendrites prevention and hydrogen evolution reaction suppression are categorized, discussed, and analyzed in detail in view of the electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. Finally, the challenging perspectives and major directions of stable zinc anodes are briefly discussed for further industrialization and commercialization of zinc-based rechargeable batteries.