Aqueous zinc-ion batteries at extreme temperature: Mechanisms, challenges, and strategies

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered a potential contender for energy storage systems and wearable devices due to their inherent safety, low cost, high theoretical capacity, and environmental friendliness. With the multi-scenario applications of AZIBs, the operation of AZIBs at extreme temperature poses critical challenges. Nevertheless, the failure mechanism of AZIBs under extreme temperature remains unclear, which hinders the establishment of corresponding modification means. Rather than simply summarizing recent advances, this review comprehensively provides insights from theory to application. Theoretically, the reasons for performance degradation under extreme temperature are explored in depth from thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives, encompassing critical factors such as ion diffusion, redox reactions on the electrode surface, and polarization. Practically, the challenges of AZIBs at low/high temperature are critically appraised, chiefly in terms of electrolyte icing, increased polarization, decreased ionic conductivity, severe side reactions, material dissolution, and thermal runaway. Subsequently, effective strategies to overcome these obstacles and optimize electrochemical performance are concluded. Finally, the possible challenges of batteries at extreme temperature and future development directions are discussed.