Targeted Modulation of Zn Deposition Behavior toward High-Performance Stable Zn Anodes

Dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions at the Zn metal anode remain critical obstacles to the commercialization of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). Zn anode design regulates Zn deposition behavior from its thermodynamic and kinetic roots and is therefore recognized as a pivotal strategy to address the above bottlenecks. However, Zn deposition evolves through a complex multistage nucleation-growth process, and the structure-property relationship between the anode designs and practical Zn deposition behavior remains to be elucidated. This review focuses on Zn deposition substrate and functional interphase engineering, systematically elucidates the microscopic mechanisms and key regulatory targets of Zn deposition at each stage, and establishes a multidimensional regulation framework covering atomic tuning, interfacial modification, and spatial confinement. Based on this framework, we summarize three core design strategies, namely zincophilic regulation, lattice-matched effects, and three-dimensional structural engineering, and provide in-depth elucidation of the working mechanism and structure-property relationship of each strategy. By correlating these fundamental principles with the latest research advances in the field, we highlight the paradigm shift from empirical trial and error to rational material design. Finally, we outline the prevailing challenges and future research directions for Zn anode design, aiming to provide actionable insights for the development of advanced dendrite-free Zn anodes toward high-performance AZIBs.