Regulation methods for the Zn/electrolyte interphase and the effectiveness evaluation in aqueous Zn-ion batteries

Abstract

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have inspired an overwhelming number of literature studies due to their safety, cost effectiveness, and environmental benignity. Directly employing metallic Zn foil as an anode significantly simplifies battery manufacturing and simultaneously broadens the operating voltage window of aqueous batteries, benefiting from its high overpotential against electrolyte decomposition. Nevertheless, serious issues, such as dendrite growth and side reactions, occurring at the Zn/electrolyte interphase, make the Coulombic efficiency and lifespan of Zn metal electrodes far from satisfactory, which has also been motivating new research interest in interfacial engineering to solve these problems. Owing to the rapid evolution of this new area, it is highly desirable to provide current and timely updates of interfacial strategies and their effectiveness evaluation. From the two sides – the electrode and the electrolyte at the interphase – this review thoroughly summarizes our fundamental understanding of interfacial strategies, including designing mechanisms, creating new methods, and technical challenges. Importantly, this review also analyses the effectiveness evaluation techniques for interfacial strategies, including electrochemical methods, characterization measurements, and computational simulations, providing guidelines for the accurate evaluation and analysis of ZIBs in the future.