Zintl chemistry: Current status and future perspectives

Since the discovery of Zintl phases in the 1891s, they have attracted considerable interests because of their novel structures, fascinated bonding and special physical properties. However, the research about Zintl phases is not complete, limiting the development of this discipline. Hence, in this work we systematically introduce the preparation approaches of Zintl phases and Zintl anions to understand the originations of their attractive structures. More importantly, the recent developments about their applications (such as thermoelectricity, catalysis, superconductor and magnetism) are thoroughly concluded. Especially, their devotions utilized as precursors for preparing functional materials are summarized. Additionally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of Zintl phases are further discussed. This review is aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Zintl phases, offering a directional guideline towards broad applications.