Zinc Powder Anode for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries: Structural Design and Performance Enhancement

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted significant attention as a promising next‐generation energy storage system following lithium‐ion batteries, owing to their high energy density, cost‐effectiveness, intrinsic safety, and environmental friendliness. However, the widespread adoption of AZIBs has been impeded by intrinsic issues associated with zinc foil anodes, such as dendrite growth and interfacial side reactions. Recently, zinc powder (Zn‐P) has emerged as a compelling alternative due to its high utilization efficiency, scalability, and industrial viability. Despite these advantages, Zn‐P anodes still encounter several critical challenges, including rapid voltage polarization during cycling, excessive gas evolution, battery swelling, electrode pulverization, and performance inconsistency stemming from diverse manufacturing processes. This review comprehensively summarizes the advantages and current limitations of Zn‐P anodes, elucidating the fundamental mechanisms underlying these issues. Furthermore, it highlights recent advancements in structural optimization strategies, such as Zn‐P modification, special structure design, and the construction of conductive scaffolds, to identify viable pathways for performance improvement. Finally, five key research directions are proposed to guide future studies and promote the practical implementation of Zn‐P‐based AZIBs.