Rechargeable Aqueous Zinc–Bromine Static Batteries: Operation Mechanism, Challenges, and Improvement Strategies

Abstract

Rechargeable aqueous zinc–bromine static batteries (AZBSBs) offer the advantages of low material cost, deep discharge capability, electrolyte nonflammability, long lifetime, and good reversibility, thus holding promise for next-generation energy storage systems. Compared with conventional aqueous batteries, which suffer from the slow diffusion of ions in solid materials, AZBSBs achieve notably higher power outputs by utilizing the redox reaction of liquid-phase bromine and are therefore particularly suited for grid-scale and distributed energy storage. Nevertheless, the commercialization of AZBSBs is hindered by zinc dendrite growth, bromine shuttling, self-discharge, and insufficient cycling stability. This review comprehensively and systematically summarizes the recent advances in AZBSBs, starting with a detailed description of their structural design, operation principles, and major challenges and subsequently discussing the latest electrode material, electrolyte, separator, and current collector modification strategies while emphasizing ways of addressing existing limitations. Furthermore, the problems faced by the development of AZBSBs are described, as well as the related future research directions, including the design of advanced electrode materials and electrolyte/separator optimization. By bridging the gap between laboratory research and practical applications, this review provides valuable insights and guidance for the development of high-performance AZBSBs, paving the way for their large-scale applications in energy storage.