Rechargeable Mild Aqueous Zinc Batteries for Grid Storage

Abstract

Rechargeable mild aqueous zinc batteries have recently attracted tremendous interest for large-scale grid storage due to their potentially highest energy density and safety, and lowest cost among available aqueous battery technologies. Herein, a variety of cathode materials, zinc anode structures, and electrolytes are briefly reviewed. A multi-type of charge carriers such as Zn2+, H+, and anions can be reversibly stored in cathodes in rechargeable mild aqueous zinc batteries. The charge storage behavior in cathodes and strategies to address the reversibility and dendrite growth of zinc anodes are comprehensively summarized. Solutions to the remaining challenges such as long-term stability and economy of cathodes and zinc anodes are discussed. This review also includes an analysis of mild aqueous zinc battery chemistry with reported cathode materials and anode materials. A perspective for the practical development of rechargeable mild aqueous zinc batteries regarding cathode design, zinc anode utilization, and cell configuration is also included to accelerate the commercialization of zinc batteries. In the future, rechargeable mild aqueous zinc batteries would be a visible energy storage solution for grid storage.