Rational Design of MXene-Based Materials for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as attractive candidates for grid-scale energy storage, benefiting from their inherent safety advantages, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendly characteristics. Nevertheless, the widespread adoption of AZIBs is still constrained by several limitations, mainly including the suboptimal performance of cathode materials and the poor stability of Zn metal anodes. In response to these challenges, 2D layered MXenes have been recently incorporated into AZIB systems, capitalizing on their exceptional electrical conductivity, high tap density, and rich surface chemistry that allows tailored functionalization. This review systematically outlines recent advances in the application of MXenes in the fields of AZIBs, with a particular focus on elucidating the structure-function correlations that govern electrochemical performance. By revealing fundamental mechanisms and strategic approaches for cathode stabilization, anode design, electrolyte engineering and separator modification, this review also highlights the novel pathways and designs for developing high-performance AZIBs based on MXene materials.