Zhuoxi Wu, Qingshun Nian, Chunyi Zhi
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted extensive attention as next-generation energy storage systems owing to their intrinsic safety, low cost, high volumetric capacity, and environmental benignity. However, the practical deployment of AZIBs remains constrained by the poor reversibility of the zinc metal anode, which suffers from dendritic growth, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, passivation, and severe morphological instability under realistic operating conditions. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the failure mechanisms of zinc anodes and the recent advances in mitigation strategies. It elucidates the electrochemical and interfacial processes governing zinc deposition and dissolution, emphasizing their coupling with ion transport, local pH fluctuation, and mechanical deformation under high areal capacity and current density. Furthermore, the review categorizes current improvement strategies into four key directions: (1) electrolyte engineering to tailor solvation structures and suppress parasitic reactions; (2) interface modification via coatings, artificial interphases, and surface doping to guide uniform nucleation; (3) electrode structural design employing 3D hosts, hierarchical frameworks, and alloying to buffer volume variation; and (4) cell-level optimization involving mechanical regulation, separator engineering, and electrode balancing. Finally, emerging research directions such as operando characterization, standardized evaluation protocols, and machine-learning-assisted material screening are discussed. Collectively, these insights outline a roadmap toward achieving highly reversible, dendrite-free zinc anodes for durable and practical AZIB technologies.