Defective Engineering As a Promising Strategy for Advanced Aqueous Zn Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered substantial research interest owing to their utilization of aqueous electrolytes, high theoretical zinc capacity, economically viable and widely accessible zinc resources, and ease of material handling. However, several challenges remain, such as low capacity, unsatisfactory energy density, and poor stability, which necessitate further research. Recently, defective engineering has emerged as a promising strategy in the development of ZIBs. This Review highlights the recent advancements in employing defective engineering toward high performing aqueous ZIBs, detailing its implications on various cathode, anode, electrolyte additives, current collectors, and separators. We will also discuss methodologies to incorporate defects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which defective engineering enhances battery performance. Furthermore, we outline future research directions of defective engineering in the development of aqueous zinc ion batteries.