Aqueous Zn batteries have drawn tremendous attention for their several advantages. However, the challenges of Zn anodes such as the corrosion and ZnO densification have compromised their application in rechargeable Zn‐based batteries. In this paper, a straightforward strategy is employed to facilitate the uniform Zn stripping/plating of the Zn anode through using a ZrO2 coating layer, which contributes to the controllable nucleation sites for Zn2+ and fast Zn2+ transportation through the favorable Maxwell–Wagner polarization. As a result, the low polarization (24 mV at 0.25 mA cm−2), high Coulombic efficiency (99.36% at 20 mA cm−2), and long cycle life (over 3800 h at 0.25 mA cm−2) can be obtained for the ZrO2‐coated Zn anode. It is believed that the ZrO2 coating layer can also act as an inert physical barrier to decrease the contact of the anode and electrolyte, thus reducing both the Zn corrosion and formation of ZnO densification, and then improve the reversibility of Zn anode. The results demonstrated in this work provide an appealing strategy for the future development of rechargeable Zn‐based batteries.

Aqueous rechargeable zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have been deemed to be possible candidates for large‐scale energy storage due to their ecoefficiency, substantial reserve, safety, and low cost. However, the challenges inherent in aqueous electrolytes, such as water splitting reactions, water evaporation, and liquid leakage, have greatly hindered their development in energy storage. Fortunately, polymer electrolytes would be able to overcome the abovementioned challenges. Moreover, the flexible properties of polymer electrolytes can facilitate their future application in wearable electronics. Recently, increasing attention has been attracted to the polymer electrolyte‐based zinc ion batteries. However, the development of polymer electrolytes for ZIBs is still in the early stages due to numerous challenges. Therefore, substantial research effort is required to overcome the challenges of polymer electrolyte‐based ZIBs. In this review, the current progress in developing polymer electrolytes, including solid polymer electrolytes, gel polymer electrolytes, and hybrid polymer electrolytes, as well as the interactions between electrodes and polymer electrolytes for ZIBs is comprehensively reviewed, analyzed, and discussed in terms of their synthesis, characterization, and performance validation. To facilitate further research and development of polymer electrolytes for ZIBs, the relevant challenges are summarized and analyzed, and some underlying approaches to overcome these challenges are also proposed.

Glucocorticoid (GC) induced osteoporosis (GIO) is caused by the long-term use of GC for treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The GC related disruption of bone marrow microcirculation and increased adipogenesis contribute to GIO development. However, neither currently available anti-osteoporosis agent is completely addressed to microcirculation and bone marrow adipogenesis. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a polyphenolic compound from a Chinese herbal medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge . The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Sal B on osteoblast bone formation, angiogenesis and adipogenesis-associated GIO by performing marrow adipogenesis and microcirculation dilation and bone histomorphometry analyses. (1) In vivo study: Bone loss in GC treated rats was confirmed by significantly decreased BMD, bone strength, cancellous bone mass and architecture, osteoblast distribution, bone formation, marrow microvessel density and diameter along with down-regulation of marrow BMPs expression and increased adipogenesis. Daily treatment with Sal B (40 mg/kg/d) for 12 weeks in GC male rats prevented GC-induced cancellous bone loss and increased adipogenesis while increasing cancellous bone formation rate with improved local microcirculation by capillary dilation. Treatment with Sal B at a higher dose (80 mg/kg/d) not only prevented GC-induced osteopenia, but also increased cancellous bone mass and thickness, associated with increase of marrow BMPs expression, inhibited adipogenesis and further increased microvessel diameters. (2) In vitro study: In concentration from 10 −6 mol/L to 10 −7 mol/L, Sal B stimulated bone marrow stromal cell (MSC) differentiation to osteoblast and increased osteoblast activities, decreased GC associated adipogenic differentiation by down-regulation of PPARγ mRNA expression, increased Runx2 mRNA expression without osteoblast inducement, and, furthermore, Sal B decreased Dickkopf-1 and increased β-catenin mRNA expression with or without adipocyte inducement in MSC. We conclude that Sal B prevented bone loss in GC-treated rats through stimulation of osteogenesis, bone marrow angiogenesis and inhibition of adipogenesis.

Figure 15. a) Schematicdiagramoft he zinc/electrospun PCIn fiber battery. b) SEMa nd TEM images of the electrospun PCIn fibers. c) Electrochemicalperformances of the Zn/electrospun PCIn fiber battery.R eproducedw ith permission. [19]

HIGHLIGHTS• An artificial solid-electrolyte interface composed of a perovskite type material, BaTiO 3 , is introduced to Zn anode surface in aqueous zinc ion batteries.• The BaTiO 3 layer endowing inherent character of the switched polarization can regulate the interfacial electric field at anode/electrolyte interface.• Zn dendrite can be restrained, and Zn metal batteries based on BaTiO 3 layer show stable cycling.

As one type of advanced alternative batteries, zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have attracted increasing attention because of their advantages of cost-effectiveness, high safety and environmentally benign features. However, the performance of cathode materials has become a bottleneck for the future application of ZIBs. In recent years, manganese dioxide (MnO2)-based materials as cathodes for ZIBs have been intensively explored. In this review, recent advances in MnO2-based cathode materials for ZIBs are comprehensively reviewed with a discussion about the reaction mechanisms for the fundamental understanding of the electrochemical processes. Furthermore, several challenges hindering the technology maturity are also analyzed with corresponding strategies to further improve the electrochemical performance of such Zn–MnO2 batteries.

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