Recent Progress of Metal-Organic Frameworks and Derivatives for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Based Batteries

In the face of growing global energy demands, the development of efficient and safe energy storage technologies is of critical importance. Aqueous zinc-based batteries (AZBs) demonstrate promising potential for large-scale energy storage due to their inherent safety, abundant zinc reserves, low cost, and relatively high energy density. However, the widespread application of AZBs is hindered by several challenges, including dendrite growth and side reactions on the zinc anode, as well as dissolution and structural degradation of cathode materials. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), characterized by their well-defined and controllable crystal structures, tunable pore environments, and highly designable chemical compositions, present a versatile solution for tackling these challenges. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in the application of MOFs and their derivatives in AZBs, focusing on design strategies and underlying mechanisms for performance optimization when they are employed as high-performance electrode materials, multifunctional interfacial protective layers, separator modifiers, and solid-state electrolytes. Finally, this review discusses the existing challenges and controversies in current research and offers forward-looking perspectives and suggestions for the future development of MOF-based advanced AZBs.