Aqueous Zn–CO₂ batteries: a route towards sustainable energy storage

In recent years, the concept of rechargeable aqueous Zn–CO₂ batteries has attracted extensive attention owing to their dual functionality of power supply and simultaneous conversion of CO₂ into value-added chemicals or fuels. The state-of-the-art research has been mainly focused on the exploration of working mechanisms and catalytic cathodes but hardly applies an integrative view. Although numerous studies have proven the feasibility of rechargeable aqueous Zn–CO₂ batteries, challenges remain including the low CO₂ conversion efficiency, poor battery capacity, and low energy efficiency. This review systematically summarizes the working principles and devices, and the catalytic cathodes used for Zn–CO₂ batteries. The challenges and prospects in this field are also elaborated, providing insightful guidance for the future development of rechargeable aqueous Zn–CO₂ batteries with high performance.