Engineering electrode materials and interfaces in aqueous and metal-ion batteries for enhanced stability and performance

The growing demand for safe, sustainable, and high-performance energy storage systems has contributed to the growth of research in aqueous or metal-ion battery technology as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The advantages of these battery systems are the increased safety, lower cost, compatibility with the environment and the usage of materials, which are abundant on the planet. This review will help in examining the recent innovations in aqueous and metal-ion batteries about materials engineering, interfacial modification strategies and long-term direction towards long-term stability and sustainability. The development of new electrode materials with high capacity, rate capability, and cycling has been relevant as a result of the development of new advanced electrode materials, including the layered oxides, Prussian blue analogues, and metal-based anodes. Equally, optimization of the electrolytes and interface engineering (e.g. protective coatings, electrolyte additives and artificial interphases between solids) has been significant in minimizing the side reactions and increasing the electrochemical reversibility. Similarly, using new designs of the cells and material alternatives, which are environmentally friendly in nature, has made them safer and easier to recycle. In particular, zinc-ion and sodium-ion batteries have both turned out to be strong competitors due to their desirable electrochemical properties, potential to work with aqueous electrolytes, and relatively straightforward fabrication methods. Meanwhile, multivalent metal-ion batteries have a greater theoretical energy density, although the challenges of slow ion diffusion and interfacial instability are also now under research. Irrespective of such developments, there are still obstacles in the way of higher energy densities, long-term stability and scalable production. This is the review that points out the main research trends and presents future perspectives that the development of aqueous and metal-ion batteries may take to provide the next-generation solutions to the safe and sustainable energy storage in the form of a battery.