The
emerging zinc-ion rechargeable batteries have attracted much
attention because of their intrinsic safety and low cost resulting
from the use of aqueous electrolytes and zinc anodes that come from
abundant sources. However, it is impossible to use zinc-ion batteries
in frigid environments because of their liquid aqueous electrolytes.
Herein, we have prepared a quasi-solid-state zinc-ion battery employing
an anti-freezing quasi-solid-state electrolyte and a high-capacity
NH4V3O8·1.9H2O cathode.
High-concentration zinc salts are used in the electrolyte to depress
its freezing point, and xanthan gum is employed to convert the electrolyte
into the quasi-solid state, for operations at subzero temperatures
and maintaining good performance while mechanically bent. When cycled
at 0.2 A g–1, the quasi-solid-state battery cells
exhibit a discharge capacity of 283 mAh g–1 at 20
°C, 215 mAh g–1 at 0 °C, and 119 mAh g–1 at −20 °C. The capacity retention can
reach 90.3% and 90.7% at 20 and 0 °C after 800 cycles when cycled
at 1.5 A g–1. The battery can still exhibit 83%
of the initial capacity over 450 cycles at −20 °C when
cycled at 0.5 A g–1. In addition, the battery well
maintains its capacity while being bent at 90 and 180°at either
20 or −20 °C. Hence, this work is a creative effort to
achieve quasi-solid-state ZIBs that can be used either in cold environments
or as power sources in wearable electronics, purely based on safe
aqueous electrolytes without using any organic compounds or organic
synthesis other than commercial edible xanthan gum.
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