Nonmetallic Anodes in Aqueous Batteries

ABSTRACT

Rechargeable aqueous batteries are considered as promising energy storage devices due to their low cost and high safety. In rechargeable aqueous batteries, nonmetallic anodes have attracted widespread attention since they generally possess the characteristics of abundant resources, high designability, and dendrite‐free. Although considerable research efforts have been made to design nonmetallic anodes, a comprehensive review about them is still absent. This review presents a systematic overview of nonmetallic anodes in aqueous batteries, including conversion anodes and insertion anodes. Conversion‐type anode materials primarily involve hydrogen gas, chalcogen compounds, and organic compounds, whereas intercalation‐type anode materials focus on metal chalcogenides, Prussian blue analogues, and polyanionic compounds. In addition, their design principles are critically discussed with emphasis on energy storage mechanisms, merits and limitations, as well as compatibility with charge carriers and cathodes. In the final section, future developments and prospects in the design of high‐performance nonmetallic anodes for aqueous batteries are also discussed. It will shed light on the R&D of nonmetallic anodes in aqueous batteries.