Toward efficient and durable zinc-air batteries via external field manipulation

Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are highly promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems owing to their high energy density, intrinsic safety, and use of earth-abundant materials. However, their practical implementation is hindered by sluggish oxygen electrochemistry, complex interfacial reactions, and mass transport limitations, which are difficult to overcome through materials-centric optimization strategies alone. The introduction of external fields has emerged as a transformative approach to modulate reaction pathways and interfacial dynamics, thereby enabling significant battery performance enhancements. In this perspective, we critically examine recent advances in deploying various external fields, including magnetic, acoustic, light, stress, microwave, and multi-field coupling to overcome kinetic and transport limitations. We elucidate the fundamental mechanisms underlying these effects, assess their impact on battery performance, and highlight unresolved scientific and engineering challenges. Finally, we outline future directions for external-field regulation as a paradigm-shifting strategy toward efficient and durable ZABs. • External fields enable multidimensional regulation of kinetics and mass transport. • External-field modulation reshapes reaction pathways and interfacial dynamics. • Multi-field coupling boosts synergy to overcome reaction kinetic limitations. • Mechanistic insights and system integration are key to practical ZAB application.