Research progress of Zn-air batteries suitable for extreme temperatures

Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have ignited a surge of research in energy storage technologies, owing to their advantages of low cost, high safety, and environmental friendliness. Recently, there has been a heightened demand to improve performance of ZABs under extreme temperatures. At low temperatures, the electrolyte inevitably freezes, leading to a decline in the dynamic performance of the air electrode. In high-temperature environments, the accelerated dehydration process of the electrolyte leads to structural deformation, limiting the capacity retention and rate performance of the air electrode. Therefore, several studies have focused on modifying electrolytes and cathodes to enhance the temperature resistance of ZABs. This review introduced the energy storage mechanism of ZABs and addressed current challenges, establishing a foundation for exploring the future development of ZABs at extreme temperatures. Then, research progress of ZABs at extreme temperatures from the perspectives of electrolytes and cathodes were elucidated. Finally, the prospects of ZABs at extreme temperatures were discussed to provide constructive insights into the future development direction of ZABs.