Tailoring desolvation strategies for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Abstract

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are recognized as promising power supplies for energy storage devices due to their high theoretical capacity, inherent safety, suitable redox potential, and environmental friendliness. However, their development is still hindered by issues such as Zn dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, passivation and cathode dissolution. The desolvation strategy has been demonstrated as a viable strategy capable of reducing direct contact between H₂O/solvent and the anode/cathode, suppressing Zn dendrite formation, reducing cathode dissolution and mitigating side reactions, thereby achieving superior battery performance. Despite tremendous progress being achieved in promoting the electrochemical performance of AZIBs via desolvation strategies, a comprehensive and systematic summary of desolation strategies to tackle the issues impeding the development of AZIBs is still lacking. This review provides a comprehensive overview detailing the research advancements in desolvation strategies pertaining to AZIBs performances, addressing the present issues and action mechanisms of desolvation strategies in AZIBs. The factors affecting desolvation are extensively discussed along with the challenges of AZIBs, and the respective desolvation strategies for the anode, electrolyte, separator and cathode of AZIBs are systemically summarized. Finally, the potential and future development directions of interface modification for AZIBs through desolvation strategies are highlighted.