Current Photovoltaic Research ISSN:2288-3274(Print) 2508-125X(Online)

M. Fichtner, K. Edström, E. Ayerbe, M. Berecibar, A. Bhowmik, I. E. Castelli, S. Clark, R. Dominko, M. Erakca, A. A. Franco, A. Grimaud, B. Horstmann, A. Latz, H. Lorrmann, M. Meeus, R. Narayan, F. Pammer, J. Ruhland, H. Stein, T. Vegge, M. Weil, Rechargeable batteries of the future—The state of the art from a BATTERY 2030+ perspective. Adv. Energy Mater. 12, 2102904 (2022).

D. Yuan, Y. Dou, Z. Wu, Y. Tian, K.-H. Ye, Z. Lin, S. X. Dou, S. Zhang, Atomically thin materials for next-generation rechargeable batteries. Chem. Rev. 122, 957-999 (2022).

D. Selvakumaran, A. Pan, S. Liang, G. Cao, A review on recent developments and challenges of cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous Zn-ion batteries. J. Mater. Chem. A 7, 18209-18236 (2019).

Y. Huang, J. Li, Key challenges for grid-scale lithium-ion battery energy storage. Adv. Energy Mater. 12, 2202197 (2022).

T. M. Gür, Review of electrical energy storage technologies, materials and systems: challenges and prospects for large-scale grid storage. Energy Environ. Sci. 11, 2696-2767 (2018).

Y. Lv, Y. Ma, J. Zhu, K. K. Abdalla, Y. Wang, Y. Fan, X. Song, Z. Chang, Y. Zhao, X. Sun, Regulating the conversion efficiency and kinetics of halogen-based reactions for high-performance aqueous Zn batteries. EcoEnergy, e70014 (2023).

M. Murugesan, N. Nallamuthu, R. Ranjithkumar, M. Krishnakumar, P. Devendran, K. Ramesh, Synthesis and electrochemical investigation of hetero bimetallic complexes CoMn₂O₄ micro rods for novel supercapacitor electrode. Electron. Mater. Lett. 19, 108-118 (2023).

H.-J. Lee, L. Liu, W.-J. Jeong, S.-K. Lee, B.-K. Ryu, Characterization of Li_1.5Al_0.5Ge_1.5(PO₄)₃ solid electrolyte with an added sintering aid. Electron. Mater. Lett. 19, 55-65 (2023).

S. Wang, Z. Yuan, X. Zhang, S. Bi, Z. Zhou, J. Tian, Q. Zhang, Z. Niu, Non-Metal Ion Co-Insertion Chemistry in Aqueous Zn/MnO₂ Batteries. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 7056-7060 (2021).

Y.-F. Cui, Y.-H. Zhu, J.-Y. Du, Y.-L. Zhang, K. Li, W.-Q. Liu, G. Huang, X.-B. Zhang, A high-voltage and stable zinc-air battery enabled by dual-hydrophobic-induced proton shuttle shielding. Joule 6, 1617-1631 (2022).

D. Lin, Y. Li, Recent advances of aqueous rechargeable zinc-iodine batteries: challenges, solutions, extent and prospects. Adv. Mater. 34, 2108856 (2022).

Z. Bai, G. Wang, H. Liu, Y. Lou, N. Wang, H. Liu, S. Dou, Advancements in aqueous zinc-iodine batteries: a review. Chem. Sci. 15, 3071-3092 (2024).

J. Kang, Z. Zhao, H. Li, Y. Meng, B. Hu, H. Lu, An overview of aqueous zinc-ion batteries based on conversion-type cathodes. Energy Mater. 2, 200009 (2022).

C. Wang, G. Gao, Y. Su, J. Xie, D. He, X. Wang, Y. Wang, Y. Wang, High-voltage and dendrite-free zinc-iodine flow battery. Nat. Commun. 15, 6234 (2024).

L. Tang, H. Peng, J. Kang, H. Chen, M. Zhang, Y. Liu, D. H. Kim, Y. Liu, Z. Lin, Zn-based batteries for sustainable energy storage: strategies and mechanisms. Chem. Soc. Rev. 53, 4877-4925 (2024).

M. Li, J. Wu, H. Li, Y. Wang, Suppressing the shuttle effect of aqueous zinc-iodine batteries: progress and prospects. Materials, 17, 1646 (2024).

Q. Li, K. K. Abdalla, J. Xiong, Z. Song, Y. Wang, Y. Zhao, M. Liu, Y. Fan, Y. Zhao, X.-M. Sun, High-energy and durable aqueous Zn batteries enabled by multi-electron transfer reactions. Energy Mater. 4, 400040 (2024).

L. Zhou, X. Li, H. Chen, H. Zheng, T. Zhang, J. Ning, H. Wang, Y. Hu, Thermodynamically and dynamically boosted electrocatalytic iodine conversion with hydroxyl groups for high-efficiency zinc-iodine batteries. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 16, 53881-53893 (2024).

Y. Zou, T. Liu, Q. Du, Y. Li, H. Yi, X. Zhou, Z. Li, L. Gao, L. Zhang, X. Liang, A four-electron Zn-I₂ aqueous battery enabled by reversible I^-/I₂/I⁺ conversion. Nat. Commun. 12, 170 (2021).

W. Li, K. Wang, K. Jiang, A high energy efficiency and long life aqueous Zn-I₂ battery. J. Mater. Chem. A 8, 3785-3794 (2020).

Y. Li, X. Guo, S. Wang, W. Sun, D. Yu, N. Li, H. Zhou, X. Zhang, H. Pang, Nano/Micro Metal‐Organic Framework‐Derived Porous Carbon with Rich Nitrogen Sites as Efficient Iodine Hosts for Aqueous Zinc‐Iodine Batteries. Adv. Sci. 12, 2502563 (2025).

S. Zeng, S. Chen, Z. Ao, X. Lin, L. Yan, C. Liu, Z. Lin, Dual‐mechanism anchoring of iodine species by pitch‐derived porous carbon for enhanced zinc-iodine battery performance. Small 21, 2501695 (2025).

P.-F. Zhang, J.-H. Li, S.-J. Zhang, D.-C. Li, S.-Y. Zeng, S.-L. Xu, Q.-X. Yao, L.-Y. Liu, L. Ding, H.-X. Li, Y.-Y. Hu, J.-T. Li, Y. Zhou, Toward shuttle‐free Zn-I₂ Battery: anchoring and catalyzing iodine conversion by high‐density P‐doping sites in carbon host. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34, 2306359 (2024).

L. Zhu, X. Guan, Y. Fu, Z. Zhang, Y. Li, Q. Mai, C. Zhang, Z. Yuan, Y. Wang, P. Li, H. Li, D. Su, B. Jia, H. Yu, Y. Sun, T. Ma, Integrated trap‐adsorption‐catalysis nanoreactor for shuttle‐free aqueous zinc‐iodide batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34, 2409099 (2024).

W. Liu, P. Liu, Y. Lyu, J. Wen, R. Hao, J. Zheng, K. Liu, Y.-J. Li, S. Wang, Advanced Zn-I₂ battery with excellent cycling stability and good rate performance by a multifunctional iodine host. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 14, 8955-8962 (2022).

Y. Yin, S. Wang, Q. Zhang, Y. Song, N. Chang, Y. Pan, H. Zhang, X. Li, Dendrite-free zinc deposition induced by tin-modified multifunctional 3D host for stable zinc-based flow battery. Adv. Mater. 32, 1906803 (2020).

W. Yuan, X. Nie, Y. Wang, X. Li, G. Ma, Y. Wang, S. Shen, N. Zhang, Orientational electrodeposition of highly (002)- textured zinc metal anodes enabled by iodide ions for stable aqueous zinc batteries. ACS Nano 17, 23861-23871 (2023).

Q. Zhang, J. Luan, L. Fu, S. Wu, Y. Tang, X. Ji, H. Wang, The three-dimensional dendrite-free zinc anode on a copper mesh with a zinc-oriented polyacrylamide electrolyte additive. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58, 15841-15847 (2019).

C. Deng, X. Xie, J. Han, Y. Tang, J. Gao, C. Liu, X. Shi, J. Zhou, S. Liang, A sieve-functional and uniform-porous kaolin layer toward stable zinc metal anode. Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 2000599 (2020).

Q. Ren, X. Tang, G. Sun, Y. Guo, Y. Li, X. Sui, Z. Wang, Synergetic structural optimizations of zinc anodes and electrolytes to enable zinc-iodine batteries with excellent low-temperature performances. ACS Nano 19, 29491-29502 (2025).

H. Peng, Y. Fang, J. Wang, P. Ruan, Y. Tang, B. Lu, X. Cao, S. Liang, J. Zhou, Constructing fast-ion-conductive disordered interphase for high-performance zinc-ion and zinc-iodine batteries. Matter 5, 4363-4378 (2022).

K. Ouyang, D. Ma, N. Zhao, Y. Wang, M. Yang, H. Mi, L. Sun, C. He, P. Zhang, A new insight into ultrastable Zn metal batteries enabled by in situ built multifunctional metallic interphase. Adv. Funct. Mater. 32, 2109749 (2022).

Y. Tian, S. Chen, Y. He, Q. Chen, L. Zhang, J. Zhang, A highly reversible dendrite-free Zn anode via spontaneous galvanic replacement reaction for advanced zinc-iodine batteries. Nano Res. Energy 1, e9120025 (2022).

W. Shang, J. Zhu, Y. Liu, L. Kang, S. Liu, B. Huang, J. Song, X. Li, F. Jiang, W. Du, Y. Gao, H. Luo, Establishing high-performance quasi-solid Zn/I₂ batteries with alginate-based hydrogel electrolytes. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 24756- 24764 (2021).

S.-B. Wang, Q. Ran, R.-Q. Yao, H. Shi, Z. Wen, M. Zhao, X.-Y. Lang, Q. Jiang, Lamella-nanostructured eutectic zinc-aluminum alloys as reversible and dendrite-free anodes for aqueous rechargeable batteries. Nat. Commun. 11, 1634 (2020).

J. Kang, J. Zhang, W. Wan, Z. Zhai, G. Liu, Y. Ge, L. Wang, C. Wang, H. Lu, A dynamic cathode interlayer for ultralow self-discharge and high iodide utilization in zinc-iodine batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 4800-4810 (2025).

X. Liang, Q. Dong, S. Guo, C. Zeng, Z. Chen, B. Zhang, C. Zhou, J. Zhang, Z. Xing, X. Tian, X. Shi, Customized design of R‐SO₃H‐containing binders for durable iodine‐loading cathode of zinc-iodine batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 15, 2500673 (2025).

H. Chen, X. Li, K. Fang, H. Wang, J. Ning, Y. Hu, Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries: from electrochemistry to energy storage mechanism. Adv. Energy Mater. 13, 2302187 (2023).

M. Liu, Q. Chen, X. Cao, D. Tan, J. Ma, J. Zhang, Physicochemical confinement effect enables high-performing zinc-iodine batteries. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 21683-21691 (2022).

X. Yang, H. Fan, F. Hu, S. Chen, K. Yan, L. Ma, Aqueous zinc batteries with ultra-fast redox kinetics and high iodine utilization enabled by iron single atom catalysts. Nano-Micro Lett. 15, 126 (2023).

J. Yang, Y. Kang, F. Meng, W. Meng, G. Chen, M. Zhang, Z. Lv, Z. Wen, C. C. Li, J. Zhao, Y. Yang, Theoretical calculation-driven rational screening of d-block single-atom electrocatalysts based on d-p orbital hybridization for durable aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 236-245 (2025).

F. Yang, J. Long, J. A. Yuwono, H. Fei, Y. Fan, P. Li, J. Zou, J. Hao, S. Liu, G. Liang, Y. Lyu, X. Zheng, S. Zhao, K. Davey, Z. Guo, Single atom catalysts for triiodide adsorption and fast conversion to boost the performance of aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 16, 4630-4640 (2023).

Y. Wang, X. Jin, J. Xiong, Q. Zhu, Q. Li, R. Wang, J. Li, Y. Fan, Y. Zhao, X. Sun, Ultrastable electrolytic Zn-I₂ batteries based on nanocarbon wrapped by highly efficient single‐atom Fe‐NC iodine catalysts. Adv. Mater. 36, 2404093 (2024).

J. Sun, Z. Wang, J. Zhang, D. Wang, Shuttle-free zinc-iodine batteries enabled by a cobalt single atom anchored on N-doped porous carbon host with ultra-high specific surface area. J. Energy Storage 90, 111716 (2024).

W. Qu, J. Zhu, G. Cao, S. Chen, Y. Tan, B. Chen, M. Zhang, Ni single‐atom dual catalytic electrodes for long life and high energy efficiency zinc‐iodine batteries. Small 20, 2310475 (2024).

L.-H. Pei, D.-M. Xu, Y.-Z. Luo, S.-J. Guo, D.-R. Liu, S.-J. Jiang, W.-J. Zhang, F.-F. Cao, Zinc single‐atom catalysts encapsulated in hierarchical porous bio‐carbon synergistically enhances fast iodine conversion and efficient polyiodide confinement for Zn‐I₂ batteries. Adv. Mater. 37, 2420005 (2025).

L. Ma, G. Zhu, Z. Wang, A. Zhu, K. Wu, B. Peng, J. Xu, D. Wang, Z. Jin, Long-lasting zinc-iodine batteries with ultrahigh areal capacity and boosted rate capability enabled by nickel single-atom electrocatalysts. Nano Lett. 23, 5272-5280 (2023).

Q. Liu, S. Wang, J. Lang, J. Wang, J. Zhan, H. Liu, Y. Qi, Z. Wu, H. Li, X. Lin, H. Li, Atomic synergy catalysis enables high-performing aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. Nano Lett. 25, 6661-6669 (2025).

Y. Li, A. Zhu, G. Peng, J. He, H. Li, D. Jia, G. He, J. Qiu, X. He, Nano-carbon supported B/N-coordinated Fe single atoms with a tuned electronic structure for long lifespan zinc-iodine batteries. Energy Environ. Sci. 18, 7213-7222 (2025).

J. Lee, W. Lee, S. Back, S. Y. Yi, S. Lee, S. Kim, J. Moon, D.-Y. Koh, K. Kim, S. Back, J. Lee, Activating iodine redox by enabling single-atom coordination to dormant nitrogen sites to realize durable zinc-iodine batteries. EES Catal. 2, 276-285 (2024).

C. Guo, Y. Cao, Y. Gao, C. Zhi, Y.-X. Wang, Y. Luo, X.-J. Yang, X. Luo, Cobalt single‐atom electrocatalysts enhanced by hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks for long‐lasting zinc‐iodine batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 34, 2314189 (2024).

P. Hei, Y. Sai, W. Li, J. Meng, Y. Lin, X. Sun, J. Wang, Y. Song, X.-X. Liu, Diatomic catalysts for aqueous zinc‐iodine batteries: mechanistic insights and design strategies. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 63, e202410848 (2024).

L. Zhang, J. Wang, L. Yang, G. Li, G. Liang, H. Hu, Surface electron affinity modulation: balancing iodine oxidation and reduction reaction kinetics on Mo₂C cathode host catalyst toward efficient Zn‐I₂ Batteries. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2504281 (2025).

H. Zhao, D. Yin, Y. Qin, X. Cui, J. Feng, Y. Zhang, L. Zhao, N. Gao, M. Cui, C. Xiao, G. Feng, Y. Su, K. Xi, S. Ding, Highly electrically conductive polyiodide ionic liquid cathode for high-capacity dual-plating zinc-iodine batteries. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 6744-6752 (2024).

H. Wang, X. Liu, J. Zhong, L. Du, S. Yun, X. Zhang, Y. Gao, L. Kang, Establishing ultralow self‐discharge Zn‐I₂ battery by optimizing ZnSO₄ electrolyte concentration. Small 20, 2306947 (2024).

Y. Yang, S. Liang, B. Lu, J. Zhou, Eutectic electrolyte based on N -methylacetamide for highly reversible zinc-iodine battery. Energy Environ. Sci. 15, 1192-1200 (2022).

F. Wang, J. Tseng, Z. Liu, P. Zhang, G. Wang, G. Chen, W. Wu, M. Yu, Y. Wu, X. Feng, A stimulus‐responsive zinc-iodine battery with smart overcharge self‐protection function. Adv. Mater. 32, 2000287 (2020).

T. Xiao, J.-L. Yang, B. Zhang, J. Wu, J. Li, W. Mai, H. J. Fan, All‐round ionic liquids for shuttle‐free zinc‐iodine battery. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 63, e202318470 (2024).

J. Chen, G. Ou, P. Liu, W. Fan, B. Li, Z. Hu, Z. Wen, Y. Zhang, Y. Tang, X. Liu, M. Ye, C. C. Li, Pyrrolic-nitrogen chemistry in 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)imidazole electrolyte additives toward a 50,000-cycle-life aqueous zinc-iodine battery. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 64, e202414166 (2025).

T. Wu, M. Xi, Y. Huang, X. Chen, Y. E. Durmus, H. Zhang, J. Ding, H. Tempel, R.-A. Eichel, Z. Tan, Hydrogen‐bond network‐mediated solvation engineering enables synchronous optimization of zinc anodes kinetics and iodine cathodes redox. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2507187 (2025).

L. Zhang, J. Huang, H. Guo, L. Ge, Z. Tian, M. Zhang, J. Wang, G. He, T. Liu, J. Hofkens, D. J. L. Brett, F. Lai, Tuning ion transport at the anode‐electrolyte interface via a sulfonate‐rich ion‐exchange layer for durable zinc‐iodine batteries. Adv. Energy Mater. 13, 2203790 (2023).

S. Chen, Q. Chen, J. Ma, J. Wang, K. S. Hui, J. Zhang, Interface coordination stabilizing reversible redox of zinc for high-performance zinc-iodine batteries. Small 18, 2200168 (2022).

X. Jin, L. Song, C. Dai, Y. Xiao, Y. Han, X. Li, Y. Wang, J. Zhang, Y. Zhao, Z. Zhang, N. Chen, L. Jiang, L. Qu, A flexible aqueous zinc-iodine microbattery with unprecedented energy density. Adv. Mater. 34, 2109450 (2022).

R. Yi, X. Shi, Y. Tang, Y. Yang, P. Zhou, B. Lu, J. Zhou, Carboxymethyl chitosan-modified zinc anode for high- performance zinc-iodine battery with narrow operating voltage. Small Struct. 4, 2300020 (2023).