Fan Mengwen, Lv Lin, Xue Shuangxi, Yan Dafeng, Ma Guokun, Wang Hanbin, Wan Houzhao, Wang Hao
Institute of Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits, School of Microelectronics, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, P. R. China.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, P. R. China.
Small. 2025 Jul 15:e2505804. doi: 10.1002/smll.202505804.
Aqueous zinc-based rechargeable batteries are promising candidates for intelligent energy storage solutions due to the low redox potential of the anode (-0.763 V vs SHE), the ultrahigh theoretical capacity of zinc (820 mA·h·g⁻¹), low cost, and exceptional safety. However, their integration with flexible electronic devices necessitates the exploitation of electrolytes that combine both flexibility and stability. Polymer-hydrogel, with unique features of both liquid-like ion transfer and solid-like mechanical robustness, and tunable physicochemical characteristics, can endow Zn-based batteries with extraordinary functional traits and provide a promising and optional solution for integration with other flexible electronic devices. Herein, the latest advances in the rational design of hydrogel electrolytes, focusing on geometric configuration, terminal group modification, and intermolecular interactions, are comprehensively reviewed. These strategies are carefully examined in the context of enhancing ionic conductivity, liquid retention, mechanical properties, and adaptability to extreme environments. This review highlights how these innovations enable zinc-based batteries to be ultrathin, bendable, twistable, stretchable, and self-healing, making them an ideal platform for integration with flexible electronics. By overcoming these hurdles, hydrogel electrolytes can significantly contribute to the advancement of flexible energy storage technologies, paving the way for their widespread application in next-generation electronic devices.
水系锌基可充电电池是智能储能解决方案的理想候选者，因为其阳极的氧化还原电位较低（相对于标准氢电极，为-0.763 V），锌的理论容量超高（820 mA·h·g⁻¹），成本低，且安全性卓越。然而，要将它们与柔性电子设备集成，就需要开发兼具柔韧性和稳定性的电解质。聚合物水凝胶具有类似液体的离子传输和类似固体的机械强度等独特特性，以及可调节的物理化学特性，能够赋予锌基电池非凡的功能特性，并为与其他柔性电子设备集成提供一种有前景的可选解决方案。在此，本文全面综述了水凝胶电解质合理设计方面的最新进展，重点关注几何构型、端基修饰和分子间相互作用。在提高离子电导率、保液性、机械性能以及对极端环境的适应性方面，对这些策略进行了仔细研究。本综述强调了这些创新如何使锌基电池具备超薄、可弯曲、可扭曲、可拉伸和自修复的特性，使其成为与柔性电子设备集成的理想平台。通过克服这些障碍，水凝胶电解质能够为柔性储能技术的进步做出重大贡献，为其在下一代电子设备中的广泛应用铺平道路。
