1. Performance Chemicals

• Lewis Acid Catalyst: ZnBr₂ acts as a Lewis acid, accepting electron pairs to catalyze various reactions. 
• Friedel-Crafts acylation: It's used in reactions like Friedel-Crafts acylation (introducing an acyl group to an aromatic ring) and alkylation (introducing an alkyl group to an aromatic ring). 
• β-hydroxy ketones: ZnBr₂ is also used in the synthesis of β-hydroxy ketones through stereoselective semipinacol rearrangement of α-hydroxy epoxides.
• Triazole Synthesis: It's also involved in the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted-1,2,3-(NH)-triazole derivatives.

2. Pharmaceuticals

• Intermediate in Organozinc Compound Synthesis: Zinc bromide anhydrous is a key reagent in the creation of organozinc compounds, which are then used in a variety of reactions to build complex organic molecules.

3. Energy 

• Electrolyte: Zinc bromide anhydrous is primarily used as an electrolyte in zinc-bromine flow batteries, which are a type of rechargeable battery known for their high energy density and suitability for grid-scale energy storage. These batteries use zinc bromide solutions as part of their electrolyte system, facilitating the flow of ions between electrodes and enabling energy storage and release.
• Clear brine fluids: Zinc bromide anhydrous is used as a dense aqueous solution in completion and workover fluids in oil and gas wells. These fluids help control formation pressure and prevent blowouts, and are also used in high-density drilling fluids. It's also used as a weighting agent in drilling fluids to control pressure during drilling operations.