Recent advances and perspectives of 1D/2D carbon materials for high-performance flexible zinc ion batteries

Flexible zinc ion batteries (FZIBs) have garnered significant attention owing to their cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, excellent flexibility and advanced security. Nevertheless, the electrochemical performance of FZIBs, such as energy density and cycling life, has yet to be improved compared to that of conventional rigid zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Due to the excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties exhibited by advanced one or two dimensional (1D/2D) carbon materials, they are increasingly recognized to play a key role in constructing flexible electrodes and improving the capacity, energy density/power density of FZIBs. However, no review comprehensively summarizes the functions and advances of 1D/2D carbon materials in FZIBs to date. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the development background of 1D/2D carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, MXenes and carbon fiber), highlighting their great advantages and functions of applications in FZIBs is given. Detailed summaries of recent advancements and the current challenges of 1D/2D carbon materials for high-performance FZIBs along with promising strategies are provided. First, the essential requirements and challenges of FZIBs and the fundamental aspects of 1D/2D carbon materials, including the development background and the unique advantages of these 1D/2D carbon materials applied in FZIBs are summarized. Then, the latest developments of these 1D/2D materials in FZIBs, which could function as active materials, conductive networks, current collectors or Zn hosts in FZIBs are discussed. In addition, the application of 1D/2D carbon materials in separators and gel electrolytes is specially emphasized. Finally, the development prospect of 1D/2D carbon materials used in FZIBs is briefly discussed. This review provides a summary of recent advancements in 1D/2D carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, MXenes, and carbon fibers) for FZIBs. It mainly introduces the functions of 1D/2D carbon materials in enhancing the performance of FZIBs.