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Batteries
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Zinc-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects
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Zinc-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects

A special issue of Batteries (ISSN 2313-0105). This special issue belongs to the section "Aqueous Energy Storage Devices and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2466

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shichen Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Interests: zinc-ion batteries; solid oxide fuel cells; gas permeation membranes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Buke Wu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Interests: aqueous zinc-ion batteries; in situ characterizations; atomic layer deposition

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging as a compelling alternative in energy storage applications due to their inherent safety, environmental compatibility, and affordability and the natural abundance of zinc. This field has seen significant progress in recent years, including novel cathode materials and optimized electrolytes, as well as deeper insights into electrochemical processes. However, several challenges remain to be addressed before ZIBs can achieve practical adoption. Issues such as limited energy density, dendrite growth at zinc anodes, electrolyte stability, and electrode degradation continue to limit the full potential of ZIB technology.

This Special Issue, titled “Zinc-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects” is dedicated to offering comprehensive and insightful coverage of ongoing research efforts, current advancements, and future directions within this promising field. We warmly welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives covering topics including, but not limited to, the following

  • Design and synthesis of advanced cathode materials for ZIBs;
  • Development and optimization of aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes for ZIBs;
  • Zinc metal interface engineering and dendrite suppression strategies;
  • In situ and operando characterization techniques for ZIBs;
  • Theoretical and computational studies of zinc-ion storage mechanisms;
  • Full-cell design, scaling-up strategies, and practical applications;
  • Electrokinetics, transport phenomena, and charge storage mechanisms;
  • Durability, safety, and recyclability of ZIB systems.

Dr. Shichen Sun
Dr. Buke Wu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Batteries is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs)
  • cathode materials
  • electrolyte optimization
  • zinc anode
  • dendrite suppression
  • interface engineering
  • operando characterization
  • computational modeling
  • electrochemical mechanisms
  • battery durability

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3784 KB  
Article
Towards Sustainable Energy Storage: Evaluating the Performance of Three Polymer Electrolytes for Zinc-Ion Batteries
by Roya Rajabi, Shichen Sun, Buke Wu, Jamil Khan and Kevin Huang
Batteries 2026, 12(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12030093 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 610
Abstract
Polymer electrolytes have been explored as an alternative to conventional aqueous electrolytes in zinc-ion batteries, particularly for flexible and wearable applications. Despite the increasing interest in polymer electrolyte-based zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), their development is still in its early stages due to various challenges. [...] Read more.
Polymer electrolytes have been explored as an alternative to conventional aqueous electrolytes in zinc-ion batteries, particularly for flexible and wearable applications. Despite the increasing interest in polymer electrolyte-based zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), their development is still in its early stages due to various challenges. In this study, we investigated three promising polymer electrolytes: CSAM (carboxyl methyl chitosan with acrylamide monomer), PAM (polyacrylamide monomer hydrogel electrolyte), and p-PBI (phosphate-doped polybenzimidazole solid electrolyte) with Zn(ClO4)2 and Zn(OTf)2, as electrolytes for zinc-ion batteries. The p-PBI solid electrolyte showed high mechanical stability and improved resistance to short-circuiting during cycling. The presence of carboxyl groups in CSAM and the existence of O-H bonding facilitated ion movement, resulting in enhanced ionic conductivity and preventing dendrite formation. Incorporating these hydrogels with high-performance zinc salts, such as zinc triflate (Zn(OTf)2), resulted in stable symmetric cell cycling over 4000 h with a uniform voltage profile under 1 mA/cm2 and a low overpotential of around 53 mV cycling with CSAM. Rate-dependent full-cell testing showed that the PBI solid electrolyte delivers higher capacity retention at different current densities, whereas CSAM exhibits markedly better long-term stability, even at low voltages, owing to its effective dendrite suppression, which helps preserve cathode performance over extended cycling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects)
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Review

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20 pages, 5112 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries: Energy Storage Mechanisms, Challenges, and Optimization Strategies
by Dong Zhao, Changwei Liu, Tao Chen and Man Li
Batteries 2026, 12(3), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries12030109 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for large-scale grid storage due to inherent safety, low cost, environmental compatibility, high theoretical capacity (820 mAhg−1), and suitable redox potential (−0.763 V vs. SHE). However, practical deployment is hindered by coupled challenges at the [...] Read more.
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for large-scale grid storage due to inherent safety, low cost, environmental compatibility, high theoretical capacity (820 mAhg−1), and suitable redox potential (−0.763 V vs. SHE). However, practical deployment is hindered by coupled challenges at the zinc anode–hydrogen evolution, dendrite growth, and corrosion/passivation, which severely limit cycle life and coulombic efficiency. This review systematically summarizes key advances in AZIB research. It first elucidates working principles and four cathode energy storage mechanisms: Zn2+ insertion/extraction, H+/Zn2+ co-insertion, chemical conversion, and dissolution/deposition. Second, it examines four mainstream cathodes (manganese-based, vanadium-based, Prussian blue analogs, and organic compounds), analyzing performance bottlenecks and corresponding optimization via structural modification. Third, it explores functional mechanisms of advanced separators (polymer, inorganic/ceramic composite, MOF-based, and cellulose-based) in regulating uniform Zn2+ deposition and suppressing dendrites. Fourth, it summarizes anode optimization strategies: artificial protective layers for interface stabilization, electrolyte additives to modulate Zn2+ solvation/deposition, and 3D porous structures to reduce local current density and provide nucleation sites. Finally, key scientific challenges and future directions are discussed—multi-strategy synergy, in situ characterization, practical battery construction, and sustainable technological development, offering theoretical guidance for advancing AZIBs toward large-scale applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective spanning from materials to systems, and from mechanisms to applications. Its core objective is not merely to list the types of cathode materials, but to establish a logical bridge directly connecting “key challenges” to “optimization strategies,” with a particular emphasis on the issues and solutions related to the cathode side. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zinc-Ion Batteries: Recent Progress and Prospects)
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