Oriented crystallization of metal electrodeposition in aqueous zinc batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are attractive for large-scale energy storage due to their safety and low cost, but practical use is limited by dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and passivation. Traditional solutions often introduce additional complexity without addressing the root cause: unstable zinc deposition. Recent advancements now focus on controlling zinc crystallographic orientation to fundamentally suppress inhomogeneous nucleation and growth. The (002) basal plane supports smooth, reversible growth and can be promoted via heteroepitaxy or homoepitaxy, enabling long cycle life even at high rates. However, emerging studies show that Zn(100) and Zn(101) orientations may offer comparable benefits through faster kinetics and reduced parasitic reactions. Scalable, non-epitaxial methods, such as electrolyte tuning and pressure control also show promise. Despite these advances, balancing thermodynamic stability with kinetic performance remains a major challenge. Future research should integrate orientation control with strategies against corrosion and calendar aging to enable practical, high-performance AZIBs. Crystallographic control of electrodeposited Zn offers a fundamental solution by targeting the root cause of inhomogeneous and loose deposition. Herein, we take the morphological inconsistencies across studies as the starting point, discussing the mechanistic understanding of orientation-dependent electro-performance and underscoring the importance of tailoring electrode crystallography to balance kinetic requirements (e.g., ion transport) and thermodynamic stability (e.g., corrosion resistance). • Debate exists over electrocrystalline orientation of Zn metal anodes. • The mechanism of tailored electrode crystallography is clarified. • The orientation-dependent electrochemical performance is discussed from kinetic and thermodynamic perspectives.