Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

In-Operando X-Ray Imaging for Sobering Examination of Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01911-0
Yuhang Dai
Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
Hongzhen He
Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Mengzheng Ouyang
Present Address: Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Jianuo Chen
Electrochemical Innovation Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Jie Lin
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AH, UK
Haobo Dong
Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
Guanjie He
Christopher Ingold Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK

Corresponding Author: Guanjie He

g.he@ucl.ac.uk

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 85

Abstract

Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) face significant challenges in achieving reversibility and cycling stability, primarily due to hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and zinc dendrite growth. In this study, by employing carefully designed cells that approximate the structural characteristics of practical batteries, we revisit this widely held view through in-operando X-ray radiography to examine zinc dendrite formation and HER under near-practical operating conditions. While conventional understanding emphasizes the severity of these processes, our findings suggest that zinc dendrites and HER are noticeably less pronounced in dense, real-operation configurations compared to modified cells, possibly due to a more uniform electric field and the suppression of triple-phase boundaries. This study indicates that other components, such as degradation at the cathode current collector interface and configuration mismatches within the full cell, may also represent important barriers to the practical application of AZMBs, particularly during the early stages of electrodeposition.


Highlights:
1 In-operando X-ray imaging reveals distinct behaviors between real-service-inspired and modified aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs).
2 Densely packed setups show suppressed Zn dendrites and hydrogen evolution compared to modified cells.
3 Findings suggest cathode degradation may also critically impact AZMB failure, beyond the anode limitations

Keywords

Aqueous Zn metal batteries X-ray imaging In situ characterization Degradation mechanism
Dai, Yuhang, Hongzhen He, Mengzheng Ouyang, Jianuo Chen, Jie Lin, Haobo Dong, and Guanjie He. 2025. “In-Operando X-Ray Imaging for Sobering Examination of Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (December):85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01911-0.
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