Beyond Cathode Hosts: The Multifaceted Utility of MoS₂ in Next-Generation Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising next-generation energy storage systems due to their intrinsic safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental compatibility. Recently, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has attracted significant interest as a promising material in this field, owing to its large interlayer spacing, tunable electronic structure, high mechanical flexibility, and excellent electrochemical stability. These unique properties enable MoS₂ to serve not only as a high-capacity cathode but also as an effective interfacial modifier for anodes and a functional component in electrolytes, effectively addressing key challenges such as dendrite growth, side reactions, and sluggish kinetics. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in the application of MoS₂ across cathodes, electrolytes, and anodes in AZIBs, with an emphasis on the underlying mechanisms by which modification strategies, such as defect engineering, interlayer expansion, and composite engineering, regulate electronic structure, accelerate ion transport, and reinforce interfacial stability. Finally, future research directions are proposed, focusing on rational design and synergistic multifunctional integration.