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With the development of science and technology, there is an increasing demand for energy storage batteries. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are expected to become the next generation of commercialized energy storage devices due to their advantages. The aqueous zinc ion battery is generally composed of zinc metal as the anode, active material as the cathode, and aqueous electrolyte. However, there are still many problems with the cathode/anode material and voltage window of the battery, which limit its use. This review introduces the recent research progress of zinc-ion batteries, including the advantages and disadvantages, energy storage mechanisms, and common cathode/anode materials, electrolytes, etc. It also gives a summary of the current research status of each material and provides solutions to the problems they face. Finally, it looks at the future direction and methods to optimize the performance of zinc-ion full batteries.

Aqueous alkaline zinc batteries (AZBs) exhibit great potential due to their high capacity, high safety and low cost. However, despite these advantages, the lack of high stability and high utilization rate makes the search for high-performance cathode materials a great challenge. Here, an amorphous nickel boride/rGO (NixB/rGO) complex structure was designed. As a result of abundant unsaturated active sites and synergistic electronic effects, amorphous NixB exhibits excellent energy storage properties. As well as having high electrical conductivity, rGO avoids aggregation of NixB nanoparticles, ensuring that NixB/rGO electrodes have a high energy storage capacity. The structure has a strong adhesion between NixB and rGO, which protects its stable structure and extends its life. More importantly, the NixB/rGO//Zn full battery shows remarkable capacity (228.4 mAh/g at 2 A/g), extraordinary cycle durability (93.7% retained after 1000 cycles) and strong energy density 399.7 Wh/kg, when coupled with NixB/rGO cathode. This work will also shed light on other nickel-zinc batteries in order to achieve super durability and capacity.

Aqueous alkaline zinc batteries have received widespread attention owing to its higher electrode potential and faster reaction kinetics compared to in mild aqueous electrolyte. However, Zn metal anode in alkaline electrolyte usually suffers more severe corrosion, passivation, and hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, an interface chemical regulation strategy employs to in-situ construct a Zn-Sn alloy layer during cycling. The K2[Sn(OH)6] has been introduced into the electrolyte as the deposition overpotential of Zn and Sn in alkaline electrolyte is approximate leading to their simultaneously plating. The Zn-Sn alloy layer not only prevents Zn anode corrosion and suppresses the dendrite growth but also promotes the reaction kinetics. Therefore, the Zn||Zn cell exhibits a long life of 400 h in alkaline electrolyte about 20 times of that in without K2[Sn(OH)6] electrolyte. Moreover, the N-NCP@PQx||Zn full cell displays a superior cycle performance of 4000 cycles with 93% capacity retention at 2 A/g.