Unlocking the energy potential of rechargeable zinc batteries: Comprehensive insights into aqueous electrolyte design

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as promising energy storage devices due to their high energy density, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the practical applications of ZIBs are curbed for challenges of hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), dendrite formations, dissolution of cathodes, and other intractable issues during charge/discharge. The aqueous electrolytes' properties strongly influence the performance and stability of ZIBs. This review offers a concise sketch of the fundamental theoretical knowledge about electrolytes. Moreover, comprehensive strategies and approaches for addressing the abovementioned issues are highlighted and summarized, unlocking the full potential of ZIBs and expanding their applications in various fields. In addition, efficient evaluation techniques for the trait of solvation structure and electrochemical performance are also reviewed, including experiments and computational simulations, which provide guidelines for the accurate evaluation and analysis of ZIBs in the future.