Speakers

Aqueous zinc based batteries are promising for safe, low cost, and scalable energy storage. However, their practical use is limited by the instability of the zinc metal anode in aqueous electrolytes. During cycling, non uniform zinc deposition, hydrogen evolution, surface passivation, and continuous changes in morphology occur at the interface, which lead to low reversibility and fast performance decay. These problems are closely related to zinc deposition chemistry, including Zn²⁺ solvation, nucleation, and growth, as well as the formation and evolution of the electrode electrolyte interphase. However, a clear link between these processes is still lacking. This talk presents a mechanistic and design oriented view of zinc anodes by connecting deposition chemistry to interphase design. The effects of electrolyte composition, local reaction environment, and current distribution on interfacial reactions and side reactions are first discussed. Then, strategies to control zinc deposition and stabilize the interface are introduced, including electrolyte engineering, artificial interphases, and structured electrodes to improve ion transport and regulate the electric field. Operando and in situ techniques are also highlighted to track changes at the zinc surface and interface during operation, allowing direct understanding of degradation processes. By combining fundamental understanding with practical design, this work aims to provide clear guidelines for stabilizing zinc metal in aqueous systems and for advancing aqueous batteries toward reliable large scale energy storage.