Recent Progress on Electrolytes and Separators of Aqueous Zinc–Iodine Batteries: Mechanisms, Challenges and Perspectives

Dongmei Qi; Xusen Chen; Xiudong Chen; Yajiang Wang; Huixiong Jiang; Xiaoduo Jiang; Yan Huang; Jin-Hang Liu; Xiaohua Cao; Dapeng Cao

doi:10.1007/s41918-026-00294-z

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2026, Vol. 9 ›› Issue (1) :21 DOI: 10.1007/s41918-026-00294-z

Review Article

review-article

Recent Progress on Electrolytes and Separators of Aqueous Zinc–Iodine Batteries: Mechanisms, Challenges and Perspectives

Author information +

¹State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 100029, Beijing, China

²School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Province Engineering Research Center of Ecological Chemical Industry, Jiujiang University, 332005, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, China

³College of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, 411105, Xiangtan, Hunan, China

^a chenxd@jju.edu.cn

^b 6080133@jju.edu.cn

^c huangyan@buct.edu.cn

^d caodp@buct.edu.cn

Dongmei Qi

Dongmei Qi received the Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology from Jiujiang University in Jiangxi, China in 2024. She is currently pursuing a Master degree at the School of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Her research focuses on the development and design of high-energy-density zinc-iodine batteries, encompassing electrode materials and electrolytes.

Xusen Chen

Xusen Chen received his Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering and Technology from the Hunan Institute of Science and Technology, Hunan Province, China, in 2023. He is currently pursuing a Master degree at the School of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology. His research focuses on the development and design of aqueous zinc-ion batteries, with an emphasis on electrode materials.

Xiudong Chen

Xiudong Chen is a professor in the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in Jiujiang University. He received his Ph.D. degree from Shanghai University in 2019, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the State Key Lab for Organic-Inorganic Composites at Beijing University of Chemical Technology (2022–2023). He was selected for the Postdoctoral Innovation Talent Program in 2021 and the Jiangxi Province Double Thousand Talent Program in 2023. His research interests focus on electrode materials for metal ion batteries and supercapacitors.

Yajiang Wang

Yajiang Wang is currently a Master student at the Chemical Engineering College of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, undergoing joint training at Jiujiang University. His research interests focus on the design and synthesis of advanced electrode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Huixiong Jiang

Huixiong Jiang received his Ph.D. degree from the East China University of Science and Technology in 2020 and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Shanghai University. He then joined the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Jiujiang University. His research interests primarily focus on electrode materials.

Xiaoduo Jiang

Xiaoduo Jiang obtained his Ph.D. degree in Engineering from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019. Afterwards, he joined the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Jiujiang University. His research focuses primarily on high-performance lithium-ion batteries and energy storage materials.

Yan Huang

Yan Huang is a Professor at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Primarily engaged in the design and experimental research of new energy materials and chemical adsorption separation materials. She has published over 40 academic papers in journals including Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Chem. Eng. J., and J. Mater. Chem. A, and led over 50 projects including sub-projects of the National Key R&D Program, National Natural Science Foundation grants, and corporate collaborations.

Jin-Hang Liu

Jin-Hang Liu obtained his Ph.D. degree (2019) in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Afterwards, he joined the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Jiujiang University. His research interests focus on the electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms and energy storage materials for rechargeable batteries.

Xiaohua Cao

Xiaohua Cao received his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering from the Zhejiang University of Technology in 2013. He was elected to the Jinggang Scholar distinguished Professor in 2021. Currently, he is a professor in the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering in Jiujiang University. His research is mainly focused on the development of novel porous materials and their application in sensing and biological fields.

Dapeng Cao

Dapeng Cao is a Professor of State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) (2005– ) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC). He received his Ph.D. degree from BUCT in 2002, and was a research scientist at NanoMaterials Technology Pte. Ltd. in Singapore (2002–2003) and a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California at Riverside (2003–2005). His research interests are focused on the designed synthesis and applications of energy storage/catalysis materials and porous materials.

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Abstract

Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as highly promising energy storage systems because of their inherent safety and low cost. However, conventional two-electron AZIBs (2eZIBs) are limited by their relatively low energy density (211 mAh g⁻¹ based on the I⁻/I₂ 2e reaction), while four-electron AZIBs (4eZIBs) can potentially double the capacity to 422 mAh g⁻¹ but still face critical challenges, including polyiodide shuttling, I⁺ hydrolysis, and zinc dendrite growth. Here, we systematically analyze the energy storage mechanisms of AZIBs, focusing on the differences and stability issues between two-electron (I⁻/I₂) and four-electron (I⁻/I₂/I⁺) redox pathways. To address these challenges, this review comprehensively summarizes electrolyte optimization strategies (e.g., functional additives and gel electrolytes) and separator modification approaches for suppressing polyiodide shuttles, stabilizing I⁺ oxidation states, and optimizing zinc deposition behavior. Additionally, we evaluate the practical energy density of AZIBs and suggest future research directions, including the design of functionalized asymmetric electrolytes and the implementation of interface engineering approaches to optimize separators, thereby facilitating the practical application of AZIBs in large-scale energy storage systems.

Graphical Abstract

This review systematically elaborates the energy storage mechanisms and key challenges facing both the cathode and anode in AZIBs, while also providing an in-depth discussion of regulatory strategies such as electrolyte optimization and separator modification. Collectively, these insights offer theoretical guidance for the development of high energy density and long cycle life AZIB systems.

Keywords

Electrolyte regulation / Separator modification / Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries / Functional additives / Energy storage mechanisms

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Dongmei Qi, Xusen Chen, Xiudong Chen, Yajiang Wang, Huixiong Jiang, Xiaoduo Jiang, Yan Huang, Jin-Hang Liu, Xiaohua Cao, Dapeng Cao. Recent Progress on Electrolytes and Separators of Aqueous Zinc–Iodine Batteries: Mechanisms, Challenges and Perspectives. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2026, 9 (1) : 21 DOI:10.1007/s41918-026-00294-z

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