Advances and challenges in aqueous zinc-ion batteries for extreme environmental adaptability

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as strategic energy storage devices for large-scale power grids and wearable electronics due to their high safety, low cost, high theoretical specific capacity, and environmental friendliness. However, the practical application of AZIBs under extreme conditions, such as low and high temperatures, mechanical deformation, and chemical/electrochemical abuse, still suffers from significant challenges. These harsh environments can exacerbate issues, including freezing or evaporation of the aqueous electrolyte, side reactions at the electrode-electrolyte interface, zinc dendrite growth, and structural degradation of cathode materials, leading to severe performance degradation or failure of the batteries. This review summarizes recent advances in the optimization strategies to enhance the environmental adaptability of AZIBs. The electrode material modifications, electrolyte designs, and interface regulations are mainly introduced. Finally, current challenges and future research directions are outlined.