Fig. 1. (a) Schematic illustration of dendrite growth and associated side reactions on the Zn anode [10]. (b) Pourbaix diagram of zinc metal in aqueous solution [36].

Fig. 2. (a) SEM image; (b) TEM image; and (c) corresponding elemental mapping of PAN/FN-CDs; (d) Long-term cycling performance of symmetric cells with Bare Zn, Zn@PAN, and Zn@PAN/FN-CDs at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2 [54]. (e) Schematic illustration of the preparation of EBP-NG/Zn; (f) Comparison of adsorption energies of H2O molecules on different surfaces; (g) Comparison of adsorption energies of Zn atoms on different surfaces [57].

Fig. 3. (a) Surface energy and redox potential of different metals; (b) Schematic comparison of polarization curves; (c) Cycling performance of symmetric cells using Zn@Cd or bare Zn as electrode materials at 10 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2; (d) Comparison of the cumulative capacity of the Zn@Cd electrode with previously reported values [67]. (e) Surface energy of Zn(002) and Zn(101) planes on Sn(200); (f) Schematic illustration of zinc deposition on Zn@Zn surface; (g) CE of the Sn@Zn//Cu asymmetric cell under high current conditions of 20 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2 [68].

Fig. 4. (a) EIS curves of symmetric cells with TiO2@Zn, Ti9O17@Zn, and Ti4O7@Zn anodes; (b) Contact angle measurements of bare Zn and Ti4O7@Zn surfaces; (c) Schematic illustration of the Zn2+ deposition process on Ti4O7@Zn; (d) Corresponding simulated morphology and current density distribution on the surfaces of bare Zn and Ti4O7@Zn during a 30-minute zinc deposition process [72]. (e) Cross-sectional SEM image of ScZ; (f) Current-voltage curve of the ScZ anode; (g) Cycling performance of symmetric cells with bare Zn and ScZ anodes at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2 [75].

Fig. 5. (a) Critical load required for detaching the CIL from the zinc-foil substrate (with the inset showing a schematic of the test) and comparison of its binding strength with other reported artificial interphases; (b) Discharge curves of the zinc-ion hybrid capacitor assembled with CIL@Zn and activated carbon under different bending conditions [77]. (c) MD simulation snapshots of the electrolyte for Bare Zn and Zn@ZTFA; (d) corresponding g(r) and N(r) analysis for the Zn-ZnSO4 and (e) TFA-ZnSO4 systems; (f) Arrhenius plots for Bare Zn and Zn@ZTFA [78]. (g) Optimized configuration of Zn2+ adsorbed on -SO3− groups and schematic of Zn2+ transport in the polyanionic-hydrogel SEI layer; (h) Gibbs free-energy diagram for HER on different substrates [79].

Fig. 6. (a) Schematic of the working mechanism of the PAN-TS protective layer on the Zn anode; (b) XRD patterns of the Bare Zn//MnO2 and Zn@PAN-TS (50:1)//MnO2 full cells after 500 cycles at 1.2 A g−1 [83]. (c) ESP map of chitosan molecules; (d) Adsorption energies between different molecules; (e) Schematic of the stabilizing effect of the chitosan/CNT protective layer on the Zn anode [85].

Fig. 7. (a) Schematic of the simultaneous reduction and assembly of an MXene layer on Zn foil [89]. (b) Schematic illustration of tailoring the electronic structure of ZIF‐8 by introducing Fc linkers (Fc‐ZIF‐8); (c) Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of ZIF‐8 and Fc‐ZIF‐8; (d) Optimized configurations and charge density difference of ZIF‐8 and Fc‐ZIF‐8 [93]. (e) Schematic of integrated micro-space electrostatic field electrospraying for fabricating MNC [96].