Structure-Function Relationships of Biomass-Derived Materials for Zinc Metal Protection

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have attracted significant attention for large-scale energy storage applications, yet their practical implementation is fundamentally limited by zinc anode stability. This review first establishes a comprehensive understanding of zinc degradation mechanisms, revealing how ion transport, solvation dynamics, and electrical double layer structure collectively determine interfacial stability. The fundamental properties and protective mechanisms of biomass-derived materials are systematically analyzed, focusing on four key functional groups: carboxyl, amino, hydroxyl, and sulfonic acid. Through examining their roles in regulating critical interfacial processes, quantitative structure-function relationships are established that reveal optimal interface protection requires balanced binding energies rather than maximizing individual interactions. More significantly, it is demonstrated that spatial distribution and synergistic effects among multiple functional groups enable superior interface regulation beyond simple additive benefits. These molecular-level insights transform empirical additive selection into rational design principles. Critical challenges in mechanistic understanding, scalability, and standardization are identified, proposing strategic directions for advancing zinc-based energy storage technologies.