Interface Engineering of Zinc Electrode for Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc-Based Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-based batteries have gained considerable interest because of their advantages of high theoretical capacity, being eco-friendly, and cost effectiveness. In particular, zinc-based batteries with alkaline electrolyte show great promise due to their high working voltage. However, there remain great challenges for the commercialization of the rechargeable alkaline zinc-based batteries, which are mainly impeded by the limited reversibility of the zinc electrode. The critical problems refer to the dendrites growth, electrode passivation, shape change, and side reactions, affecting discharge capacity, columbic efficiency, and cycling stability of the battery. All the issues are highly associated with the interfacial properties, including both electrons and ions transport behavior at the electrode interface. Herein, this work concentrates on the fundamental electrochemistry of the challenges in the zinc electrode and the design strategies for developing high-performance zinc electrodes with regard to optimizing the interfaces between host and active materials as well as electrode and electrolyte. In addition, potential directions for the investigation of electrodes and electrolytes for high-performance zinc-based batteries are presented, aiming at promoting the development of rechargeable alkaline zinc-based batteries.