MXene-based flexible zinc-ion batteries: Research progress and prospects for biomedical applications

A reliable power supply system is the core support for the stable operation of biomedical devices, and energy storage devices with integrated safety, flexibility, and biocompatibility represent a critical bottleneck in the development of next-generation wearable/implantable medical devices. Flexible zinc-ion batteries (FZIBs), leveraging their inherent safety features, excellent biocompatibility, and cost-effectiveness advantages, have emerged as highly promising power solutions in this field. However, they are still limited by issues such as cathode structural instability, zinc anode dendrite growth, and insufficient ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of electrolytes/separators. MXene, as an emerging two-dimensional material with unique physicochemical properties, is an ideal modification candidate for FZIBs performance breakthroughs. This review systematically summarizes the preparation strategies of MXene-based flexible electrodes, the working mechanisms of FZIBs, and the existing challenges of their core components. It focuses on discussing the application progress of MXene in the cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators of FZIBs, and deeply analyzes the mechanism by which structural regulation enhances battery flexibility and optimizes electrochemical performance. On this basis, focusing on wearable/implantable devices’ practical application needs, their biomedical application potential is demonstrated. Finally, future development directions are prospected from three dimensions: material design, device integration, and clinical translation, aiming to provide theoretical and technical guidance for the construction of high-performance MXene-based FZIBs, accelerate their industrial application in the field of precision medicine, and promote the in-depth integration of flexible energy storage technology and biomedical engineering.