From Root to Remedy: Revisiting Zinc Dendrites in Aqueous Batteries Through Mechanistic Insights and Disruptive Engineering

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are emerging as promising energy storage systems due to their high capacity, safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, their large‐scale application remains limited by issues such as zinc dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, interfacial instability, and anode corrosion, which reduce cycling life and efficiency. This review systematically analyzes the mechanisms of dendrite nucleation and growth, focusing on factors like local pH fluctuations, Zn 2+ solvation, ion transport imbalance, and side reactions. It further summarizes electrolyte engineering strategies—including hydrogels, deep eutectic solvents, and additive‐based formulations—that regulate water activity and suppress parasitic reactions like hydrogen evolution reaction. Advances in anode and interface design, such as surface modification, 3D hosts, and hybrid interlayers with metal–organic frameworks or carbon frameworks, are also discussed. Additionally, emerging diagnostic tools like operando spectroscopy, AI‐driven analysis, and electrochemical noise monitoring are highlighted for their role in tracking dendrite evolution. The review concludes by outlining current challenges and a roadmap toward stable, scalable, and intelligentZIBs.