Current collectors, as reaction sites, play a crucial role in influencingvarious electrochemical performances in emerging cost-effectivezinc-based flow batteries (Zn-based FBs). 3D carbon felts (CF) are commonlyused but lack effectiveness in improving Zn metal plating/stripping. Here, acurrent collector with gravity-induced gradient copper nanoparticles (CF-G-CuNPs) is developed, integrating gradient conductivity and zincophilicityto regulate Zn deposition and suppress side reactions. The CF-G-Cu NPselectrode modulates Zn nucleation and growth via the zincophilic Cu/CuZn5alloy has been confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.Finite element simulation demonstrates the gradient internal structureeffectively optimizes the local electric/current field distribution to regulate theZn2+ flux, improving bottom-up plating behavior for Zn metal and mitigatingtop-surface dendrite growth. As a result, Zn-based asymmetrical FBs withCF-G-Cu NPs electrodes achieve an areal capacity of 30 mAh cm−2 over 640 hwith Coulombic efficiency of 99.5% at 40 mA cm−2 . The integrated Zn-IodideFBs exhibit a competitive long-term lifespan of 2910 h (5800 cycles) withlow energy efficiency decay of 0.062% per cycle and high cumulative capacityof 112800 mAh cm−2 at a high current density of 100 mA cm−2 . This gradientdistribution strategy offers a simple mode for developing Zn-based FBsystems.