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Recent advances and perspectives of zinc metal-free anodes for zinc ion batteries

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Abstract

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are recognized as potential energy storage devices due to their advantages of low cost, high energy density, and environmental friendliness. However, zinc anodes are subject to unavoidable zinc dendrites, passivation, corrosion, and hydrogen evolution reactions during the charging and discharging of batteries, becoming obstacles to the practical application of ZIBs. Appropriate zinc metal-free anodes provide a higher working potential than metallic zinc anodes, effectively solving the problems of zinc dendrites, hydrogen evolution, and side reactions during the operation of metallic zinc anodes. The improvement in the safety and cycle life of batteries creates conditions for further commercialization of ZIBs. Therefore, this work systematically introduces the research progress of zinc metal-free anodes in “rocking chair” ZIBs. Zinc metal-free anodes are mainly discussed in four categories: transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, MXene (two dimensional transition metal carbide) composites, and organic compounds, with discussions on their properties and zinc storage mechanisms. Finally, the outlook for the development of zinc metal-free anodes is proposed. This paper is expected to provide a reference for the further promotion of commercial rechargeable ZIBs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51872090 and 51772097), the Hebei Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholar, China (No. E2019209433), the Youth Talent Program of Hebei Provincial Education Department, China (No. BJ2018020), the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China (No. E2020209151), and the Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department, China (No. SLRC2019028).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Technology Innovation Center of Circular Economy, Ha’erwusu Open-Pit Coal Mine, China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd., Ordos, 010300, China

    Jiabing Miao

  2. Research Center of Comprehensive Utilization of Coal Associated Resources, National Energy Group, Ordos, 010300, China

    Jiabing Miao

  3. School of Chemical Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, 063009, China

    Yingxiao Du, Ruotong Li, Zekun Zhang, Ningning Zhao, Lei Dai, Ling Wang & Zhangxing He

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  1. Jiabing Miao
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Correspondence to Zekun Zhang, Lei Dai or Zhangxing He.

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Zhangxing He is a youth editorial board member for IJMMM and was not involved in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. All authors confirm that they have no competing interests or financial ties that could influence the outcomes or interpretation of this research.

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Miao, J., Du, Y., Li, R. et al. Recent advances and perspectives of zinc metal-free anodes for zinc ion batteries. Int J Miner Metall Mater 31, 33–47 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-023-2665-y

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