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Miao et al. Energy Mater 2023;3:300014 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2022.89 Page 17 of 31

Figure 7. Characterization challenges for studying aqueous electrolytes as well as Zn anode surfaces.

affected by the anthropogenic factor. Analogously, multi-physical simulation technologies are heavily
perturbed by the parameter settings, which should be carefully considered. In addition, the study of HTVS
and ML in aqueous electrolytes for Zn batteries is a void at present, which presents opportunities and
challenges for researchers.

The morphological information of Zn anodes at different spatial scales can be obtained by cameras, optical
microscopes, SEM, and TEM. However, these techniques can only observe the morphology of the Zn
surface and the structure under the surface cannot be detected. In addition, some methods for
characterizing the surface composition of Zn anodes have their limitations. For example, using tools such as
XRD to study interface identification corrosion also has limitations, as peaks of different phases can overlap
[86]
and accurate identification becomes challenging . In addition, various electrochemical testing techniques
are affected by factors such as the experimental environment, the test equipment, battery row materials, and
parameter settings, leading to the challenge of ensuring the repeatability of experiments.

THE ADVANCES IN MILDLY ACIDIC AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTES FOR ZN ANODES
In this section, we will systematically discuss recent advances in electrolyte optimization based on each
composition of mildly acidic aqueous electrolytes. The advantages and disadvantages of optimization
strategies for each electrolyte composition are examined, along with their future prospects. Then, we
analyze the functional principles of each electrolyte component modification strategy to improve the
performance of Zn anodes. Finally, the research status of mildly acidic aqueous electrolytes on extending the
cycling life and improving the utilization of the Zn anode are reviewed.