Small molecule-based supramolecular-polymer double-network hydrogel electrolytes for ultra-stretchable and waterproof Zn-air batteries working from −50 to 100 °C

• Published in: Energy & environmental science 2021-08, Vol.14 (8), p.4451-4462
• Main Authors: Gu, Chaonan, Xie, Xiao-Qiao, Liang, Yujia, Li, Jingjing, Wang, Hai, Wang, Kaifang, Liu, Junpeng, Wang, Mengke, Zhang, Yunfei, Li, Manxing, Kong, Huajie, Liu, Chun-Sen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batteries; Cold tolerance; Deformation; Electrolytes; Elongation; Energy storage; High temperature; Hydrogels; Low temperature; Metal air batteries; Molten salt electrolytes; Polyacrylamide; Polymers; Self-assembly; Solid electrolytes; Stretchability; Substrates; Temperature tolerance; Ultrahigh temperature; Zinc; Zinc-oxygen batteries
• ISSN: 1754-5692; 1754-5706
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ee01134k

The continuing boom in the field of soft electronics has boosted the development of highly stretchable and environment-adaptable energy storage devices based on hydrogel electrolytes. Development of such soft energy supply devices still remains a challenging task since conventional hydrogel electrolytes are quite vulnerable to mechanical deformation and exhibit low temperature-tolerance to maintain their functions under extremely cold conditions. Herein, a small molecule-based supramolecular-polymer double-network (SP-DN) hydrogel platform was developed by introducing a series of non-covalent self-assembled guanosine G-quadruplex supramolecular networks into covalently cross-linked polyacrylamide polymer networks. The obtained KOH (6 M)-filled SP-DN hydrogels exhibited excellent stretchability (>1600%) and wide temperature-tolerance (from −196 to 100 °C), superior interfacial adhesion to various electrode substrates, and ultra-high low- and high-temperature conductivities (252.2 mS cm −1 at −50 °C; 431.7 mS cm −1 at 100 °C). All these outstanding properties strongly recommend the application of SP-DN hydrogels as quasi-solid electrolytes for highly stretchable (device-level elongation >1000%) and wearable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). More interestingly, without any special pre-treatment, the fabricated stretchable ZABs are highly waterproof and temperature-resistant (down to −50 °C and up to 100 °C) with a high energy/power density and a stable long-cycle life. This study offers a new option to design water-based hydrogel electrolytes for highly stretchable and environment-adaptable energy storage devices. Herein, we present a highly stretchable (device-level elongation >1000%), waterproof, and wide temperature-tolerant (−50 to 100 °C) wearable Zn-air battery based on a well-designed supramolecular-polymer double-network hydrogel electrolyte.