As the global demand for sustainable, large-scale energy storage escalates, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a highly promising "post-lithium" alternative due to their intrinsic safety, environmental benignity, and high theoretical capacity. However, the commercial deployment of ZIBs is currently bottlenecked by severe interfacial instabilities, including the uncontrolled growth of needle-like zinc dendrites, parasitic side reactions (such as corrosion and hydrogen evolution), and the dissolution of cathode materials.
A new, comprehensive review article published in the journal ENGINEERING Energy by researchers from the Institute of New Energy Materials and Engineering at Fuzhou University provides a critical analysis of how Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is poised to overcome these exact challenges.
ALD is a highly advanced vapor-phase deposition technique renowned for its sub-nanometer precision and unparalleled conformality, allowing for the layer-by-layer growth of atomic films on complex battery components. The review systematically details a monumental paradigm shift in ALD application for batteries: the field is moving away from the simple use of passive physical barriers and toward multifunctional coatings capable of actively regulating interfacial chemistry.
Key Highlights and Research Perspectives:
By elucidating the complex structure-property relationships at the atomic scale, the Fuzhou University team provides a rational framework to bridge the gap between microscopic structural engineering and macroscopic battery performance. This research lays the fundamental groundwork for designing durable, high-performance aqueous energy storage systems tailored for the next generation of grid-scale applications.
Journal : ENGINEERING Energy
Read the full article for free: https://rdcu.be/frN5y
Cite this article : Huang, K., Zhang, S., Liu, Z. et al. Atomic layer deposition for advanced zinc-ion batteries. ENGINEERING Energy 20 , 10722 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-026-1072-2
ENGINEERING Energy
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Atomic layer deposition for advanced zinc-ion batteries
15-Jun-2026