Research Progress of Electrolyte Additives to Stabilize Zinc Negative Electrode in Aqueous Zinc-ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are one of the most promising electrochemical energy storage devices for the future. They have many advantages such as being safe and cost-effective. The electrolyte acts as a bridge between the positive and negative electrodes, allowing electrochemical reactions to take place. However, the negative zinc electrode in these batteries faces several challenges due to the aqueous nature of the electrolyte. These challenges include the formation of zinc dendrites, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and corrosion. To address these issues, researchers have found that electrolyte additives can be incorporated into the system to enhance its operability. This paper summarizes the main problems faced by Zinc negative electrode in aqueous zinc-ion batteries, with a focus on elaborating the improvement mechanisms of electrolyte additives for zinc dendrites, hydrogen evolution reactions, and corrosion at the negative electrode. It is pointed out that the development of electrolyte additives with multiple functions is the key to achieving zinc anode protection in the future