Topology-Guided Design of 3D Zinc Anodes: From Electrochemical Modulation to Practical Prospects.

Abstract

Zinc-based batteries have attracted considerable attention as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage, owing to their intrinsic safety, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the practical deployment of these systems is hindered by significant challenges associated with zinc anodes, including dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, "dead zinc" accumulation, and pronounced volume fluctuations during cycling. Recent advancements in 3D topological engineering have introduced transformative solutions by enabling precise control over local electric fields, ion transport pathways, and deposition behavior through innovative structural design. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current progress in the topology-guided design and fabrication of 3D zinc anodes, encompassing strategies such as nanowire arrays, porous metallic scaffolds, additive manufacturing, and laser processing. How these engineered topologies modulate key electrochemical characteristics is highlighted, such as zinc deposition kinetics, electric field uniformity, and ion concentration gradients, thereby effectively suppressing dendrite growth, mitigating parasitic side reactions, and accommodating volume fluctuations. Critical development bottlenecks, including limited long-term stability, integration complexity, and scalability, are thoroughly discussed. Finally, future research directions is proposed with a focus on intelligent material integration, precision manufacturing, and the structure-performance relationship, aiming to provide a foundational framework for advancing high-performance zinc anodes for safe, efficient, and scalable energy storage applications.