Two major challenges hinder the advance of aqueous zinc metal batteries for sustainable stationary storage: (1) achieving predominant Zn-ion (de)intercalation at the oxide cathode by suppressing adventitious proton co-intercalation and dissolution, and (2) simultaneously overcoming Zn dendrite growth at the anode that triggers parasitic electrolyte reactions. Here, we reveal the competition between Zn²⁺ vs proton intercalation chemistry of a typical oxide cathode using ex-situ/operando techniques, and alleviate side reactions by developing a cost-effective and non-flammable hybrid eutectic electrolyte. A fully hydrated Zn²⁺ solvation structure facilitates fast charge transfer at the solid/electrolyte interface, enabling dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping with a remarkably high average coulombic efficiency of 99.8% at commercially relevant areal capacities of 4 mAh cm^-2 and function up to 1600 h at 8 mAh cm^-2. By concurrently stabilizing Zn redox at both electrodes, we achieve a new benchmark in Zn-ion battery performance of 4 mAh cm^-2 anode-free cells that retain 85% capacity over 100 cycles at 25 °C. Using this eutectic-design electrolyte, Zn | |Iodine full cells are further realized with 86% capacity retention over 2500 cycles. The approach represents a new avenue for long-duration energy storage.

NaTi0.25Fe0.25Co0.25Ni0.25O2 is explored as a cathode material for Na-ion batteries. Synthesized by a solid-state reaction, the compound is phase-pure with the O3-type layered structure and consists of Ti4+, Fe3+, Co3+, and Ni2+ according to X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The cathode delivers 163 mAh/g and 504 Wh/kg at C/20 in the first discharge with 89% capacity retention after 20 cycles and demonstrates superior rate capability with micron sized particles, in which discharge capacity at 30 C is 80mAh/g. Our results indicate that the Ti-containing quaternary material can be a potential cathode composition for Na-ion batteries.