Aqueous zinc–iodine batteries (AZIBs) have attracted considerable interest for large-scale energy storage owing to their high safety

low cost

and abundant resources. However

their further development is still limited by several key issues

including polyiodide shuttling

sluggish iodine-conversion kinetics

and unstable Zn anode interfaces. Ionic polymers

which combine charged functional sites

continuous macromolecular frameworks

and tunable transport channels

have emerged as promising materials for regulating these coupled processes. In this feature article

recent advances in ionic polymers for AZIBs are systematically summarized from three perspectives: iodine-cathode hosts

electrolyte and separator ion-transport regulation

and zinc-anode protection. Particular attention is given to the underlying mechanisms and structural design principles related to polyiodide confinement

Zn2+ transport regulation

interfacial desolvation

and reaction environment optimization. Based on this

the evolution from physical confinement to charge engineering is highlighted

and the remaining challenges and future opportunities are briefly discussed. This feature article aims to provide useful guidance for the rational design of ionic polymers for high-performance AZIBs.