ZIBs of the “rocking chair” type exhibit a comparable structure and mechanism to “rocking chair” LIBs and are generally defined as ZIBs, where Zn is the host instead of Zn metal. “Rocking chair” type ZIBs consists of intercalated zinc metal-free anode, anode current collector, electrolyte, separator, cathode current collector, and Zn-rich cathode. The working mechanism of the zinc metal-free “rocking chair” type ZIB is also based on the reversible shuttle of divalent zinc between the zinc substrates through the electrolyte (Fig. 2) [63]. During charging, the divalent Zn²⁺ extracted from the cathode side diffuses through the electrolyte-soaked separator, and then the anode is inserted. During discharge, divalent Zn²⁺ is reversely inserted from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte-impregnated separator.

The “rocking chair” type ZIBs overcomes the safety problem of the metal Zn anode and have the advantages of long service life and low cost [64,65]. Zinc metal-free anodes are key components that affect battery performance and energy density and should satisfy the following criteria:

(1) Low Zn intercalation voltages. The weight/volume energy density of a battery depends on the operating voltage and the weight/volume specific capacity. Especially, the energy density is calculated by integrating voltage, current and discharge/charge time. The voltage of the battery is determined by the difference in potential between the positive and negative [64,66]. The large voltage gap between the positive and negative electrodes is crucial for improving the energy density of the full cell. In addition, longer and flat voltage plateaus are advantageous because they facilitate stable voltage output [64,61].

(2) High theoretical capacity. The energy density of a battery is determined by the specific capacity and operating voltage of the electrodes [67]. High capacity anodes are desirable. On the basis of previous literature [68], after determining the Zn²⁺ intercalation mechanism, the theoretical specific capacity of a given electrode material can be calculated in advance by the following formula:

where n stands for the number of charge transfer, F is the Faraday constant (96485 C/mol), and M refers to molar weight (unit: g/mol).

(3) Low Zn²⁺ diffusion barriers. Zn²⁺ possesses a large hydrated ionic radius (4.04–4.30 Å), which leads to large steric hindrance and strong electrostatic interaction with the matrix [69], resulting in kinetic retardation and reduced Zn²⁺ intercalation and deintercalation rates. Therefore, the zinc metal-free should have a large interlayer distance or an appropriate tunnel structure to ensure the reversible and rapid intercalation and deintercalation of Zn²⁺ in the matrix [69].

(4) Stable structure. The reversible intercalation and deintercalation of Zn²⁺ generates large internal stress and destroys the structure. For high-performance zinc metal-free anodes, it is essential that they possess good structural stability to endure the process of Zn²⁺ insertion and deintercalation repeatedly. The alteration of the crystal structure causes ion channels to become defunct, resulting in increased diffusion resistance. Meanwhile, anode materials must have chemically and electrochemically stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces in the electrolyte to achieve stable cycling performance [70].

(5) High electronic conductivity. Poor electron conductivity hinders the migration and exchange of electrons. In addition, the low electronic conductivity leads to charge accumulation and strong electrostatic interaction between the anode host and Zn²⁺, which slows down the diffusion rate of Zn ions.

The primary challenges of “rocking-chair” type ZIBs stem from the absence of high-performance host materials and the limited understanding of the Zn storage mechanism. The specific challenges are as follows:

(1) To date, very a small number of anodes have been investigated in “rocking chair” ZIBs. Rocking chair ZIB anodes have lower capacity than metallic zinc anodes. One of the greatest challenges facing burgeoning Zn-free rocking-chair ZIBs is their low energy density. In addition, the storage mechanism of zinc remains to be further studied. Rocking-chair ZIBs with high specific capacity, wide operating voltage, and long cycling stability should become the main direction of development.

(2) Studies on rocking chair ZIBs are few. Electrolytes suitable for rocking chair ZIBs ought to possess wide potential window, high ionic conductivity, and good electrolyte and electrode interface.

(3) The preparation technology of ZIBs is different from that of Zn metal batteries and non-aqueous LIBs. Especially, the electrode assembly technology and the selection of binders, current collectors, and containers remain a difficult task.

Therefore, considering the high research value and challenges of zinc metal-free “rocking-chair” ZIBs, a systematic summary is provided to offer insight into potential future exploration directions and the selection of high-performance electrode materials.

As a promising material, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been extensively studied for their applications in various energy-related fields [71,72]. TMDs are composed of transition metals (M) and sulfides (X) and are generally considered to be inorganic analogues of graphite. The stoichiometric composition of each TMD layer is MX₂, its central layer is composed of M atoms, and the middle layer is composed of two layers of X atoms. Therefore, each TMD layer can be deemed to be three-atoms thick (X–M–X configuration). One of the interesting features of TMD is the interlayer bond between the two X–M–X layers; weak van der Waals interactions are usually responsible for keeping the structure in place [72]. The presence of such interlayer bonding enables the exfoliation of the bulk TMD into monolayer or few-layer TMD [73]. Furthermore, owing to this distinct 2D structure, the interlayer spacing of TMDs can accommodate intercalated ions. This finding is especially true for battery technologies that use larger hydrated Zn ions, known as ZIB.

Li et al. prepared a novel pre-sodiumized titanium disulfide (Na_0.14TiS₂) and used it as an anode for ZIBs [69]. The introduction of Na can greatly enhance the Zn storage performance of TiS₂. This Na_0.14TiS₂ anode exhibits a reversible capacity of 140 mAh/g at 50 mA/g with an appropriate discharge potential of 0.3 V (vs. Zn²⁺/Zn) in the electrolyte of 2 mol/L Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂; it retains a capacity retention of 98% after 700 cycles at 0.2 A/g and 77% after 5000 cycles at 0.5 A/g. The results of constant current batch titration, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations showed that the TiS₂ pre-sodium that formed Na_0.14TiS₂ phase not only serves as a buffer phase to enhance the reversibility and stability of the structure, but also the Zn²⁺ ion transfer ability. Consequently, an aqueous “rocking chair” Zn-ion full cell is constructed by combining Na_0.14TiS₂ anode with ZnMn₂O₄ cathode, achieving a capacity of 105 mA/g with an average voltage of 0.95 V at 0.05 A/g and 74% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.2 A/g. Yang et al. reported a highly reversible “rocking chair” ZIB, which was composed of a mixed-valence Cu_2-xSe anode and a commercial MnO₂ cathode [74]. Cu_2-xSe is used as the anode, which simultaneously solves the problems of Zn dendrite growth and electrolyte decomposition in traditional metal zinc anodes. The results show that the incorporation of low-valence copper alters the storage active site of Zn²⁺ ions, thus enhancing the electronic interaction between the active site and the intercalated Zn²⁺ ions, resulting in an intercalation generation energy of −0.68 eV and a decrease in the diffusion barrier. Measurements by ex-situ transmission electron microscopy, ex-situ X-ray diffraction, and constant-current batch titration techniques revealed that Zn²⁺ can intercalated/extracted reversibly in Cu_2-xSe through an intercalation reaction process. The Cu_2-xSe nanorod anode is highly advantageous due to its rigid host structure and easy Zn²⁺ diffusion kinetics, exhibiting a CE of approximatively 99.5%, excellent rate capability and long-term cycling stability. The as-constructed Zn_xMnO₂||Cu_2−xSe Zn-ion full cell delivers an excellent electrochemical capability, specially a long cycling stability of over 20000 cycles at 2 A/g. Zhao et al. developed a secure and eco-friendly Zn-ion micro-battery (ZIMB) by utilizing an MXene-TiS₂ (de)intercalated anode, a multiwalled carbon nanotubes–vanadium dioxide (B) (MWCNTs–VO₂ (B)) cathode, a Zn sulfate–polyacrylamide (ZnSO₄–PAM) hydrogel electrolyte and a self-healing polyurethane protective shell construct [75]. This ZIMB exhibits excellent electrochemical capacity with a capacity of 40.8 µAh/cm², maximum power density of 32.5 µWh/cm² and maximum energy density of 1.2 mW/cm². Furthermore, the ZIMB also delivers the good thermostability, flexibility, and self-healability; it can withstand high bending angles of up to 150°, high temperatures of 100 ℃, and multiple damage and repair cycles without any significant loss of capacity. Zhang et al. designed a conversion reaction anode for ZIBs composed of copper sulfide (CuS) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) superlattices (Fig. 3a) [76]. Owing to the long-chain molecules of CTAB (2.6 nm) and the positively charged head group CTAB (C₁₉H₄₂N⁺), this superlattice can expand the interlayer spacing by 2.4 nm (001) planes, thus resulting in a charge redistribution that weakens the Coulomb repulsion force and facilitates the diffusion of Zn²⁺. In addition, CTAB layers can maintain structural stability as interlayer pillars. The high reactivity of Cu ions makes them favorable for growing into larger Cu particles, and this conversion process is accompanied by volume expansion. The CTAB spacer can alleviate the tension, preclude the coalescing of Cu nanoparticles, and ensure the capability to reverse the conversion reaction. As a result, CuS-CTAB exhibits remarkable rate capacity of 225.3 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g with 144.4 mAh/g at 10 A/g and a good cycling stability of 87.6% capacity retention over 3400 cycles at 10 A/g. Furthermore, the full cells are fabricated with a CuS-CTAB superlattice anode and a Prussian blue analogue (PBA, Zn_xFeCo(CN)₆) cathode to exhibit a good specific capacity of 159.7 mAh/g at 1 A/g and long cycling stability of 3000 cycles at 10 A/g (Figs. 3b and c). Lv et al. proposed CTMAB (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) pre-intercalated CuS (CuS@CTMAB) with expanded interlayer spacing as a anode material for rocking-chair ZIBs (Fig. 3d) [77]. The CTMAB molecule has a strong columnar structure, which can expand the interlayer spacing of CuS, thereby facilitating the intercalation of Zn²⁺. DFT calculations and ex-situ Raman, XRD, TEM and XPS characterizations indicate that CuS@CTMAB undergoes a typical stepwise intercalation conversion reaction route during discharge. The combination of coefficients of intercalation and switching reaction mechanisms enable not only achieve large Zn²⁺ storage capacity, but also moderate structural transformation and good electron conduction during cycling, resulting in good cycling stability and high-rate performance. Accordingly, the CuS@CTMAB anode with the appropriate working potential of approximately 0.37 V (vs. Zn²⁺/Zn) exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of 350.3 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g and good cycle life of 99.88% capacity retention over 3000 cycles. Additionally, the CuS@CTMAB||MnO₂ full battery exhibits a high reversible capacity of 78.5 mAh/g with a good capacity retention of 93.9% over 8000 cycles at 2 A/g. Furthermore, the CuS@CTMAB||CoFe(CN)₆ Prussian blue full battery can achieve a high average working voltage of 1.05 V (Figs. 3e and f). Lei et al. employed in situ molecular engineering techniques to fabricate a novel synthetic CuS_1-x@polyaniline (PANI) anode for AZIBs, which was Zn-free and could generate appropriate S-vacancies and PANI heterointerfaces simultaneously [78]. The CuS_1-x@PANI composite, due to the suitable S-vacancies and unique PANI heterointerface structure, exhibits excellent electrochemical storage performance of Zn²⁺. The sulfur vacancies not only provide the number of active sites for the storage of Zn²⁺, but also make the nearby sulfur atoms more amenable to charge transfer, thereby enhancing the storage capacity of Zn²⁺. In addition, the conductive polymer heterointerface enhances the electrical conductivity, facilitates the transport of ions, and ensures excellent structural stability. The DFT calculation results fully demonstrate the synergistic effect of sulfur vacancies and heterointerface engineering on the whole performance of CuS anodes. As a result, the CuS_1–x@PANI half-cell delivers a good capacity of 215 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and satisfying cycling stability of 90.7 mAh/g after 2000 cycles at 10 A/g. Utilizing HR-STEM images, Operando SXRD, and Operando XAFS spectroscopic characteristics indicate that the storage mechanism of Zn²⁺ is based on the crystalline-amorphous transformation of CuS and a highly reversible transformation reaction. Furthermore, the as-constructed CuS_1–x@PANI||Zn_xMnO₂ full cell delivers a high capacity of 138 mAh/g at 1 A/g and displays long cycling stability up to 10000 cycles with a capacity retention of 80% at 10 A/g. Du et al. proposed to use MoTe_1.7 containing tellurium vacancies (TVs) obtained by laser reduction as the anode to prepare Zn-free aqueous ZIBs (Fig. 3g) [79]. According to first-principles calculations, predict that TVs Zn²⁺ can be stored in TVs, which can buffer volume changes, lower the diffusion barrier, and narrow the band gap. By using laser irradiation in experiments, hydrated electrons can be generated in polar solvents to reduce MoTe₂, resulting in charge imbalance that leads to the formation of TVs. The results show that the conductivity, capacity, stability, and diffusion kinetics of the electrodes are enhanced by laser irradiation of TVs. The laser-reduced MoTe_1.7 anode exhibits a good reversible capacity of 338 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, excellent CE of 100% at 0.2 A/g, and preeminent cycle life of 96% retention for 10,000 cycles at 1 A/g. Moreover, results of both in situ diffraction and ex situ spectroscopic experiments demonstrated that the capacity of MoTe_1.7 to store Zn is a conversion reaction at the Mo redox center, involving the formation and dissociation of ZnTe. Furthermore, the MoTe_1.7||Zn_xMnO₂ pouch-type full cell exhibits an excellent energy density of 137 Wh/kg and high capacity retention of 95% over 1000 cycles (Figs. 3 h and i). Du et al. reported a layered TiTe₂ synthesized by a one-step vacuum sintering method as a metal-free anode for ZIBs [80]. Through ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations indicated that the TiTe₂ electrode through conversion of chemical reactions can deliver a low diffusion energy barrier of approximately 0.23 eV, a fast Zn migration channel with a high diffusion coefficient of 4.7 eV × 10⁻¹¹ cm²/s, and high thermodynamic stability. The TiTe₂ electrode in the half cell presents a low charging voltage of approximately of 0.7 V in comparison to Zn²⁺/Zn, a good reversible capacity of 225 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, and excellent cycling stability of 95% capacity retention over outstanding long life of 30000 cycles at 5 A/g. Additionally, the TiTe₂||Zn_xCo₃O₄ pouch-type full cell exhibits a satisfying energy density of 149 Wh/kg and excellent capacity retention of 94% after 5000 cycles. Moreover, in situ diffraction and ex situ spectroscopy indicate that the maintained good reversible capacity of ZnTe depends on the transformation chemistry during the formation and dissociation of ZnTe with Ti²⁺/Ti⁴⁺ two-electron redox charge compensation. Cai et al. developed an advanced ultra-stable aqueous-phase rocking-chair ZIB with dual electric field in situ induced insertion/conversion dual-mechanism Na_1.6TiS₂/CuSe₂ hetero-interfacial anode (Fig. 3j) [81]. The rational structure of the large heterointerface between different phases generates a built-in electric field, which reduces the energy barrier for ion migration, promotes electron and ions diffusion, reduces charge transfer resistance, and establishes a good conduction network. The improved interaction between different atoms at the phase interface relieves the tensile strain, stabilizes the lattice, and achieves good Zn²⁺ diffusion kinetics. The dual-mechanism Na_1.6TiS₂/CuSe₂ heterostructures can achieve a discharge capacity of 142 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g. Even after a high current evaluation of 10 A/g, this material maintains a discharge capacity of 133 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g current density, displaying an impressive capacity retention of 83.8% at 5A/g over 12000 cycles (Figs. 3k and l).

Although transition metal dichalcogenides have shown great potential in rocking-chair ZIBs, they are currently limited to TiS₂ and CuS-based dichalcogenides materials. Therefore, suitable transition metal dichalcogenide materials should be found for “rocking chair” ZIBs in the follow-up research.

Transition metal oxides are considered very attractive battery candidates because of their excellent reversible capacity, as well as eco-friendliness, corrosion resistance, and good cost economy [82]. In addition, the higher potential and higher safety of intercalated alkali metal ions are another advantage of transition metal oxide [83]. Likewise, transition metal oxides have also shown great potential for Zn ion storage.

Xiong et al. proposed hexagonal MoO₃ (h-MoO₃) as an intercalated anode as an alternative electrode for Zn metal plates (Fig. 4a) [84]. The energy storage mechanism of h-MoO₃ is related to the primary intercalation and extraction of H₂O and Zn²⁺, the secondary intercalation and extraction of SO₄²⁻, and the reversible exchange of NH₄⁺. Taking advantage of its hexagonal structure, h-MoO₃ exhibits a good capacity of 120 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, and maintains an excellent capacity retention of 99% after 100 cycles at 0.3 A/g, further demonstrating its excellent cycling stability. Moreover, a Zn metal-free full battery with h-MoO₃ anode and a Zn_0.2MnO₂ cathode exhibits a specific capacity of 56.7 mAh/g at energy density of 61 Wh/kg and an exceptional capacity retention of 100% after 1000 cycles (Figs. 4b and c). Wang et al. employed a hydrothermal method to fabricate monoclinic MoO_x and use it as the anode for ZIBs [85]. The as-prepared monoclinic MoO_x delivered high discharge/charge capacities of 53.3/53.1 mAh/g and ideal average potential of 0.53 V (vs. Zn²⁺/Zn) at high current density of 10 A/g between 0.1 V and 1 V, high discharge/charge capacities of 82.5/82.0 mAh/g at 10 A/g, and eventually discharge/charge capacities of 44.4 mAh/g after 30000 cycles. In addition, the cyclic voltammetry technique was utilized to analyze the kinetic behavior of the Zn ion storage process of monoclinic MoO_x. Results demonstrate that, at high scan rates, the electrochemical reaction process is mainly driven by capacitive contributions, thus exhibiting excellent rate characteristics of monoclinic MoO_x at high current densities. The storage mechanism of zinc ions was investigated by X-ray diffraction and deduced as: MoO_x + yZn²⁺ + 2ye⁻ ⇌ Zn_yMoO_x. Furthermore, by comparing the differences of the Zn _δ-MoO_x anode and the metal Zn alone to construct the battery indicated that the former shows significant advantages in electrochemical performance, especially rate capability. Wang et al. designed a novel nitrogen-doped carbon intercalation layered MoO₂ (MoO₂@NC) material through a combination of interlayer engineering and in-situ carbonization of aniline guests in molybdenum trioxide layers, which is suitable to be used as an intercalated anode for ZIBs (Fig. 4d) [86]. The even dispersion of carbon layers in layered MoO₂ not only provides a fast transport path for electrons, but also strengthens the structure of MoO₂, making it highly structurally integrated during high-speed cycling. The carbon-intercalated MoO₂ electrode displays good initial CE, satisfying cycling stability, and excellent rate capability due to its unique structural design. Multiple ex situ characterizations suggest that its good electrochemical stability stems from a reversible intercalation mechanism and an ultra-stable structural framework. In addition, the “rocking chair” ZIB assembled with Zn-pre-intercalated Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂O₂F cathode that exhibits good stability and long cycling stability, with a capacity retention rate as high as 91% over 8000 cycles (Fig. 4e and f). Cao et al. fabricated a tungsten oxide/tungsten carbide layered hybrid heterostructure (WO₃/WC) with good interfacial energy and strong electronic coupling via a convenient calcination technology and employed it as an intercalation anode for rocking chair ZIBs [58]. Stacked and divergent WO₃ nanosheets, featuring multiple active sites and multiple oxidation states, can be employed to storage Zn²⁺. Meanwhile, both experimental and theoretical investigations show that the combination WO₃ and WC can considerably enhance the electronic and ionic conductivity, which is beneficial to the formation of a thermodynamically stable interface. Consequently, the as-prepared WO₃/WC exhibit excellent capacity at 164 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and good cycle life of 90.2% over 1000 cycles at 1.0 A/g. Moreover, the assembled WO₃/WC||MnO₂/graphite rocking-chair ZIBs deliver good capacity of 69 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, excellent cycling stability of 100% after 10000 cycles and satisfying energy density of 85 Wh/kg at 106 W/kg. Chen et al. employed a solvothermal method to construct hexagonal WO₃/3D porous graphene (h-WO₃/3DG) as an intercalated anode for ZIBs (Fig. 4g) [87]. The crystal structure of WO₃ in this complex is a hexagonal channel with a diameter of 5.36 Å, which is much large than that of Zn²⁺ (0.73 Å), which accelerates the insertion and extraction of Zn ions. Accordingly, the h-WO₃/3DG||Zn half-cell delivers good electrochemical capability with a satisfying capacity of 115.6 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and 89% capacity retention at 2.0 A/g after 10000 cycles. Furthermore, a full cell was fabricated with h-WO₃/3DG as the anode and ZnMn₂O₄/carbon black as the cathode, without the use of Zn metal, yielding an initial capacity of 66.8 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, which corresponds to an energy density of 73.5 Wh/kg (based on the total mass of anode and cathode-active materials) and the capacity retention was 76.6% after 1000 cycles at 0.5 A/g (Figs. 4 h and i).

Transition metal oxides have been shown to be highly effective electrode materials, as they possess both high specific capacities and rapid electrochemical redox reaction rates. Despite the advantages of zinc storage, transition metal oxides have drawbacks such as slow rate, short cycle life, significant volume expansion, and electrode fracture during charging and discharging. Thus, the actual specific capacity is significantly lower than the theoretical specific capacity. At the same time, transition metal oxides are rarely employed in rocking-chair ZIBs, and currently only focus on materials, such as MoO₂, MoO₃ and WO₃. In the follow-up research, suitable transition metal oxides should be developed for rocking chair ZIBs.

Organic materials are seen as some of the most prospective new battery electrode materials due to their potential to be synthesized from green natural resources, as well as their ability to be tuned for performance through molecular design [88,89]. More importantly, in comparison to the strong chemical bonds in inorganic materials and the strong covalent bonds in molecules, the intermolecular interactions of organic compounds are relatively weak, allowing for the storage of large-sized multivalent metal ions in the large intermolecular spacing [90,91]. These properties enable the rapid advancement of organic electrodes in ZIBs.

Yan et al. adopted Zn dendrite-free organic 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) to replace metallic Zn to prepare ZIBs (Fig. 5a) [92]. The ZIBs used organic AQ-derived as the anode and 1 mol/L ZnSO₄+ 0.05 mol/L MnSO₄ aqueous solution as the electrolyte, and the synthesized ZnMn₂O₄ was selected as the cathode. The as-assembled ZIBs deliver good cycle life with capacity retention of 94.4%, high specific capacity of 189.5 mAh/g after 500 cycles and a specific energy of 81 Wh/kg (Figs. 5b and c). Liu et al. reported that a polymerized version of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxydiimide (PTCDI) on reduced graphene oxide (PTCDI/rGO) could be used as a dendrite-free anode for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) (Fig. 5d) [93]. The as-prepared PTCDI/rGO electrode not only not only enhances the stability of ZIBs by preventing non-uniform Zn stripping and plating, but also offers remarkable rate capability and a long cycling stability, due to the phase transfer mechanism that involves protons and Zn ions (reaching 130 mAh/g at 3 A/g with 97% capacity retention after 1500 cycles). Moreover, the low potential of PTCDI was explained using density functional theory. Furthermore, the full cell constructed with the PTCDI/rGO as anode and commercial Prussian blue as cathode exhibits a high capacity of 193 mAh/g and an appropriate operation voltage of 0.95 V at 0.2 A/g yet retains 75% capacity at 0.2 A/g with the cycle life span of 150 times (Figs. 5e and f). Liu et al. reported a scalable 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide (NI) as a dendrite-free organozinc anode for ZIBs and investigated the effect of different binders on the electrochemical capability of NI electrodes [94]. The electrochemical performance of NI electrodes prepared with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder is not satisfactory, and the stability of the electrode structure is poor. In comparison, the NI electrode with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the binder exhibits good rate performance of 122.2 mAh/g at 5 A/g and satisfying cycling stability. The improved stable cycling performance of NI by the PTFE binder is due to its efficient maintenance of the electrode structure during cycling, thereby inhibiting the dissolution of organic molecules. In addition, ion kinetic analysis shows that capacitive charge storage provides superior rate capability. Through ex situ Raman spectroscopy and in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) revealed that the carbonyl group of nickel is the electrochemically active center. Furthermore, A Zn-ion full battery, employing metal-free NI anode and Prussian blue analogues cathode, is capable of delivering an impressive rate capability of 113.9 mAh/g at 10.0 A/g, good operation voltage of approximately 1.2 V at 1.0 A/g and energy density of 50.2 Wh/kg_total. Xu et al. synthesized a series of CNT-containing and CNT-free molecules and polymers and employed them as ZIB anodes [95]. Among these materials, a polymer/carbon nanotube hybrid based on perylene 3,4,9,10-tetracarboxydianhydride showed the best electrochemical property. Then, electrolytes containing different concentrations of Zn salts were investigated experimentally and by simulation, and the result showed that the addition of trifluoride, high ionic conductivity, mild acidity, and low viscosity could significantly increase transmission characteristics for fast and stable storage of ions. The optimized combination of the polymer anode will enable the polymer result in a low discharge voltage of 0.2–0.4 V vs. Zn²⁺/Zn, a good capacity of 128 mAh/g at 0.05 mA/g, a high CE of approximately 100%, a high loading of approximately 50 mg/cm², fast charging capability of 100 A/g, and extraordinary cycling stability for up to one million cycles. The storage mechanism of this polymer was revealed by in situ and ex situ characterization and electrochemical measurements, uncovering the mechanism of reversible Zn²⁺ (de-) coordination and proton interaction in the polymer. Moreover, full battery based on the PI-1/CNT anode exhibits a high-power density of 9.1 kW/kg, long cycle life of 50,000 cycles, and cycling stability for over sub-million cycles at 10 and 200 A/g.

In recent years, the design of organic active electrodes has made great progress in rocking chair ZIBs, but much work still needs to be done. Generally speaking, the capacity and voltage of a battery are essential in determining its energy density. Organic materials require intelligent design at the molecular level to avoid the trade-off between high capacity and high voltage. Moreover, organic-inorganic hybrid materials combine the advantages of both inorganic and organic electrode materials, which are beneficial to improve the energy density of electrodes. Furthermore, fine-tuning the chemical structure to tune intermolecular interactions enables to simultaneously control the solubility of the material, retain high capacity, and even increase output voltage.

In addition to the transition metal dichalcogenides, transition metal oxides, and organic compounds were applied to the anode of rocking chair ZIBs. Prussian blue analogs, hydrated titanic acid, hydrated ammonium vanadate, and Te were also applied to rocking chair type ZIBs. Chae et al. reported the construction of Zn₂Mo₆S₈ as anode and K_0.02(H₂O)_0.22Zn_2.94[Fe(CN)₆]₂ (rhombic Prussian blue analog) as cathode in ZnSO₄ aqueous electrolyte Rocker-style ZIBs [96]. The full battery delivers a reversible cycle, with a capacity of 62.3 mAh/g and an average discharge cell voltage of 1.40 V. Liu et al. adopted hydrated titanic acid (H₂Ti₃O₇·xH₂O) as the anode material for a novel type of ZIBs with potential properties similar to TiO₂ and extended interlayer spacing supported by crystalline water (Fig. 6a) [97]. The low potential of H₂Ti₃O₇·xH₂O (0.2 V vs. Zn²⁺/Zn) can significantly improve the working voltage level of Zn-ion full cells. Results of a thorough investigation demonstrate that the increased lattice spacing and interlayer crystal water of the H₂Ti₃O₇·xH₂O anode promote the simultaneous insertion and extraction of Zn²⁺ with H⁺. The H₂Ti₃O₇·xH₂O anode with low potential demonstrates excellent cycling capability and CE, thanks to the presence of interlayer crystal water. The assembled Zn_xMnO₂//H₂Ti₃O₇·xH₂O ZIB has good electrochemical capability, specially the output voltage exceeds 1 V (Figs. 6b and c). Wang et al. alternately assembled (NH₄)₂V₁₀O₂₅·8H₂O (NHVO) nanoribbons and Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanosheets in the form of hybrid films to construct NHVO@Ti₃C₂T_x hybrid films and used them as anodes for rocking-chair ZIBs (Fig. 6d) [98]. The as-prepared NHVO nanobelts have ultrathin morphological features, the particle size is only approximately 14 nm, and the dispersibility is good. Through the combination of 2D Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets, a flexible NHVO@Ti₃C₂T_x hybrid film electrode was achieved and exhibited fast ion and electron transmission. Benefiting from the crystal structure advantage of NHVO and the auxiliary role of Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets, the NHVO@Ti₃C₂T_x hybrid film electrode achieves a good capacity of up to 514.7 mAh/g and excellent cycling stability of 84.2% capacity retention at 5.0 A/g after 6000 cycles. Furthermore, a “rocking chair” Zn ion full cell composed of NHVO@Ti₃C₂T_x as anode and ZnMn₂O₄ as cathode exhibits the highest specific capacity of 131.7 mAh/g (based on total mass), the largest energy density of 97.1 Wh/kg, and excellent cycling stability of 92.1% after 6000 cycles at 2.0 A/g (Figs. 6e and f). Chen et al. replaced metallic Zn with the chalcogen tellurium (Te) to prepare a switching tellurium-based ZIBs that can operate in mild and alkaline electrolytes [99]. The different transformation mechanisms of mild electrolyte (Te→ZnTe₂→ZnTe) and alkaline electrolyte (TeO₂→Te→ZnTe) were confirmed by XRD and XPS characterization. Dendrites and HER are complete eliminated, with good cycle life in mild and alkaline electrolytes (over 5000 cycles with a high-capacity retention over 75%), owing to advanced switching mechanisms. Additionally, with appropriate N/P ratio, high capacity and high energy density can be obtained in the Te/MnO₂ (106 mAh/g anode + cathode and 81 Wh/kg anode + cathode) and Te/Ni(OH)₂ (161 mAh/g anode + cathode and 176.3 Wh/kg anode + cathode) batteries with high utilization of anode (up to 50.1% and 38.9%, respectively). Zhang et al. concluded that the layered BiOI has a suitable interlayer distance (0.976 nm) and a low Zn²⁺ diffusion barrier (0.57 eV) based on density functional theory, and designed free-standing BiOI nanopaper as an anode for ZIBs [100]. The intercalation process and mechanism of Zn(H₂O)_n²⁺ in BiOI were confirmed by means of ultra-in situ X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The potential of BiOI nanopaper as a superior anode is demonstrated by its suitable potential (0.6 V vs. Zn/Zn²⁺), satisfying reversible capacity (253 mAh/g), excellent rate performance (171 mAh/g at 10 A/g), stable cycling performance (113 mAh/g after 5000 cycles at 5 A/g), and dendrite-free operation. The quasi-solid-state battery, composed of BiOI nanopaper anode and Mn₃O₄ cathode, displays a high initial capacity of 149 mAh/g (for anode) and an excellent capacity retention of 70 mAh/g after 400 cycles. The self-assembled flexible battery also exhibits good cycling stability in flexible electrochemical tests. Zhao et al. developed a stable “rocking chair” ZIB using a low-strain (2.4% volume change) Zn₃V₄(PO₄)₆ (ZVP) cathode and layered TiS₂ anode (Fig. 6g) [101]. The as-prepared ZVP/rGO cathode offers a reversible capacity of 105.2 mAh/g with a high operating voltage of 1.5 V (vs. Zn²⁺/Zn), excellent cycle life of 100% capacity retention over 250 cycles and good rate performance of 90.6 mAh/g at 10 C and 62.9 mAh/g at 40 C in a half cell. In situ Raman, in situ XPS and XRD characteristics indicated that the ZVP cathode possesses reversible Zn intercalation and deintercalation reactions and structural stability. The DFT calculation results show that the two Zn²⁺ sites on the Zn²⁺ sites can be extracted reversibly, confirming that the volume of ZVP changes slightly during Zn²⁺ storage. Furthermore, the “rocking chair” ZVP//TiS₂ full cell delivers good electrochemical reversibility and cycling capability (Figs. 6 h and i). Zhao et al. synthesized a novel rocking chair type ZIB cathode material, Zn₃V₄(PO₄)₆@C (ZVP@C), and evaluated its electrical conductivity using a composite carbon coating [102]. By taking advantage of the two-electron reaction of vanadium and the co-intercalation of Zn²⁺/H⁺, ZVP@C/30%BP displays a specific capacity reach up to 120 mAh/g at 0.04 A/g and an excellent capacity retention of 80% after 400 cycles at 1 A/g. Long et al. fabricated few-atom layered co-doped BiOBr nanosheets (Co-UTBiOBr) by a one-step hydrothermal process, and designed freestanding flexible electrodes composed of Co-UTBiOBr and CNTs (Fig. 6j) [103]. Ultrathin nanosheets consisting of three atomic layers and carbon nanotubes facilitate the transfer of Zn²⁺ and electrons respectively, respectively. It has been established through experimental and theoretical studies that co-doping is advantageous in lowering the diffusion barrier of Zn²⁺, increasing the volume expansion after Zn²⁺ intercalation, and enhancing the electronic conductivity of BiOBr. Based on the ex situ characterization, an insertion transition mechanism is proposed. Profiting from many advantages, Co-UTBiOBr delivers a satisfying capacity of 150 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and an excellent cycling stability of 100% capacity retention after 3000 cycles at 1 A/g. Especially, outstanding electrochemical capabilities was retained even at an ultrahigh mass loading of 15 mg/cm². Co-UTBiOBr//MnO₂ “rocking chair” ZIB delivers a stable cycling performance of 130 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g during cyclic test and its flexible quasi-solid-state battery exhibits excellent stability when bent in various forms (Figs. 6k and l).

The development of diverse anode materials for rocking chair ZIBs is one of the main factors hindering their industrialization. Therefore, the search for anode materials for rocking chair ZIBs should be expanded in subsequent studies.