Zinc based micro-electrochemical energy storage devices: Present status and future perspective

In order to keep rapid pace with increasing demand of wearable and miniature electronics, zinc-based microelectrochemical energy storage devices (MESDs), as a promising candidate, have gained increasing attention attributed to low cost, environmental benign, and high performance. Herein, this review summarizes the state-of-the-art advances of zinc-based MESDs in microbatteries (MBs) and microsupercapacitors and highlights merits of cost effectiveness and high performance for miniaturized smart integrated systems. First, an introduction is given to present importance of zinc-based MESDs. Second, current status with representative fiber, in-plane and sandwiched configurations are illustrated in detail, particularly with a focus on the reasonable construction of multifunctional MBs and microsupercapacitors and deep understanding of energy storage mechanisms. Then, achievements for smart systems are overviewed to highlight environmental adaptability, integratable properties, and scalability in targeting applications. Finally, critical perspectives and challenges on the synergistic optimization of whole device are discussed to demonstrate forward-looking developmental directions of zinc-based MESDs.