Reassessing the Commercialization of Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries Based on Laboratory Achievements

The development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) has attracted increasing attention as a promising route toward low-cost, safe, and sustainable energy storage. While their intrinsic advantages, such as nonflammable electrolytes, abundant zinc resources, and environmentally benign chemistries, position AZIBs as attractive candidates for long-lifespan electrochemical energy storage, significant technical gaps remain between current laboratory-scale innovations and system-level deployment requirements. This review analyzes recent advancements in cathode materials, electrolyte formulations, and interfacial stabilization strategies, with a focus on how these approaches impact performance metrics relevant to practical applications. Drawing from both peer-reviewed studies and publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Energy, we derive target performance thresholds and use these benchmarks to assess the readiness of key material systems including manganese- and vanadium-based cathodes. Particular emphasis is placed on strategies such as defect engineering, water intercalation, and electrolyte-electrode compatibility for enhancing energy density and cycle stability. Despite the notable progress, challenges such as structural degradation, transition metal dissolution, and limited Zn2+ transport kinetics greatly impede the commercial viability of AZIBs. By bridging insights from laboratory results with projected deployment criteria, this review provides a performance-oriented roadmap to guide future research efforts aimed at transforming AZIBs from proof-of-concept systems to commercialized technologies.