Anti-freezing flexible aqueous Zn–MnO<sub>2</sub> batteries working at −35 °C enabled by a borax-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/glycerol gel electrolyte

Chen, Minfeng; Zhou, Weijun; Wang, Anran; Huang, Aixiang; Chen, Jizhang; Xu, Junling; Wong, Ching‐Ping

doi:10.1039/d0ta01553a

Cited by 209 publications

(133 citation statements)

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“…Chen et al introduced a Zn-MnO 2 battery and used borax-crosslinked PVA/glycerol hydrogel electrolytes that worked at −35 • C. The presence of glycerol could strongly interact with the PVA chains and inhibited the formation of ice crystals within the hydrogel network. The battery achieved an energy density of 46.8 mWh cm −3 at 25 • C and of 25.8 mWh cm −3 at −35 • C [212]. Other multivalent ions batteries that could work at different temperatures using different hydrogel electrolytes have been reported to improve the potential window [213][214][215].…”

Section: Polymer Hydrogel Electrolytes For Energy Conversion Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

et al. 2020

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In the present review, we focused on the fundamental concepts of hydrogels—classification, the polymers involved, synthesis methods, types of hydrogels, properties, and applications of the hydrogel. Hydrogels can be synthesized from natural polymers, synthetic polymers, polymerizable synthetic monomers, and a combination of natural and synthetic polymers. Synthesis of hydrogels involves physical, chemical, and hybrid bonding. The bonding is formed via different routes, such as solution casting, solution mixing, bulk polymerization, free radical mechanism, radiation method, and interpenetrating network formation. The synthesized hydrogels have significant properties, such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability, swellability, and stimuli sensitivity. These properties are substantial for electrochemical and biomedical applications. Furthermore, this review emphasizes flexible and self-healable hydrogels as electrolytes for energy storage and energy conversion applications. Insufficient adhesiveness (less interfacial interaction) between electrodes and electrolytes and mechanical strength pose serious challenges, such as delamination of the supercapacitors, batteries, and solar cells. Owing to smart and aqueous hydrogels, robust mechanical strength, adhesiveness, stretchability, strain sensitivity, and self-healability are the critical factors that can identify the reliability and robustness of the energy storage and conversion devices. These devices are highly efficient and convenient for smart, light-weight, foldable electronics and modern pollution-free transportation in the current decade.

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Section: Polymer Hydrogel Electrolytes For Energy Conversion Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

et al. 2020

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“…As one of the most promising cathode materials, MnO 2 possesses the merits of low cost, high theoretical capacity (308 mAh g −1 , based on one electron reaction), high output voltage (∼1.4 V), and environmental friendliness (Jin et al, 2019;Chen et al, 2020). Ever since Yamamoto et al developed Zn//ZnSO 4 //MnO 2 cell chemistry in 1986 for the first time, lots of impressive works have been dedicated to this field (Yamamoto and Shoji, 1986;Guo et al, 2020;Xie et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybridizing δ-Type MnO2 With Lignin-Derived Porous Carbon as a Stable Cathode Material for Aqueous Zn–MnO2 Batteries

et al. 2020

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With the advantages of intrinsic safety, low price, high output potential, and acceptable energy density, aqueous rechargeable Zn-MnO 2 batteries are gradually emerging as promising energy storage devices in recent years. Unfortunately, the structural instability and poor electrical conductivity of manganese dioxides still hinder their further applications. To tackle these issues, we demonstrate a high-performance cathode material for Zn-MnO 2 batteries by hybridizing lignin-derived porous carbon with δ-MnO 2 (denoted as LPC/δ-MnO 2). Benefiting from the high electrical conductivity of porous carbon, the LPC/δ-MnO 2 cathode material can offer high discharge capacity of 332.3 mAh g −1 at 0.2 A g −1 and excellent high-rate capability (196.1 mAh g −1 at 5 A g −1). Meanwhile, the assembled Zn-MnO 2 battery displays good long-term cycling stability (82% capacity retention after 1000 cycles). Such superior performances are attributed to the synergetic effect of nanostructured δ-MnO 2 and porous carbon scaffold, which is in favor of rapid Zn 2+ ion diffusion and large contribution ratio of pseudocapacitive Zn 2+ ion intercalation. The results of this study show great prospects of hybridizing biomass-derived carbon framework with electrochemically active materials toward advanced energy storage materials.

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“…According to the Nyquist plots in Figure 1E , the ionic conductivity values of gel electrolytes can be calculated. The calculation details can be found in our previous reports (Chen et al, 2020 ; Zhou et al, 2020 ). At a temperature of 20°C, the PAM/GO/EG gel electrolyte demonstrates a high ionic conductivity of 19.8 mS cm −1 , which drops to 17.9 and 14.9 mS cm −1 when the temperature declines to 0 and −20°C, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been reported that adding cryoprotectants such as glycerol and ethylene glycol (EG) into gel electrolytes can realize good anti-freezing capabilities (Mo et al, 2019 ; Zhou et al, 2020 ). In our previous report, we developed a borax-cross-linked PVA/glycerol gel electrolyte, in which glycerol can interact with PVA chains strongly, thus effectively preventing the formation of ice crystals within the whole gel network (Chen et al, 2020 ). Even at −20°C, it still shows a high ionic conductivity of 15.9 mS cm −1 and great mechanical properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Performance Anti-freezing Flexible Zn-MnO2 Battery Based on Polyacrylamide/Graphene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol Gel Electrolyte

et al. 2020

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It remains a great challenge for aqueous zinc-ion batteries to work at subzero temperatures, since the water in aqueous electrolytes would freeze and inhibit the transportation of electrolyte ions, inevitably leading to performance deterioration. In this work, we propose an anti-freezing gel electrolyte that contains polyacrylamide, graphene oxide, and ethylene glycol. The graphene oxide can not only enhance the mechanical properties of gel electrolyte but also help construct a three-dimensional macroporous network that facilitates ionic transport, while the ethylene glycol can improve freezing resistance. Due to the synergistic effect, the gel electrolyte exhibits high ionic conductivity (e.g., 14.9 mS cm −1 at −20 • C) and good mechanical properties in comparison with neat polyacrylamide gel electrolyte. Benefiting from that, the assembled flexible quasi-solid-state Zn-MnO 2 battery exhibits good electrochemical durability and superior tolerance to extreme working conditions. This work provides new perspectives to develop flexible electrochemical energy storage devices with great environmental adaptability.

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Anti-freezing flexible aqueous Zn–MnO₂ batteries working at −35 °C enabled by a borax-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/glycerol gel electrolyte

Abstract: An anti-freezing gel electrolyte with an ultralow freezing point below −60 °C is developed for assembling high-performance flexible aqueous Zn–MnO2 batteries.

Cited by 209 publications

References 75 publications

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

Hybridizing δ-Type MnO2 With Lignin-Derived Porous Carbon as a Stable Cathode Material for Aqueous Zn–MnO2 Batteries

High-Performance Anti-freezing Flexible Zn-MnO2 Battery Based on Polyacrylamide/Graphene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol Gel Electrolyte

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Anti-freezing flexible aqueous Zn–MnO2 batteries working at −35 °C enabled by a borax-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/glycerol gel electrolyte

Abstract: An anti-freezing gel electrolyte with an ultralow freezing point below −60 °C is developed for assembling high-performance flexible aqueous Zn–MnO2 batteries.

Cited by 209 publications

References 75 publications

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

Fundamental Concepts of Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Their Applications

Hybridizing δ-Type MnO2 With Lignin-Derived Porous Carbon as a Stable Cathode Material for Aqueous Zn–MnO2 Batteries

High-Performance Anti-freezing Flexible Zn-MnO2 Battery Based on Polyacrylamide/Graphene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol Gel Electrolyte

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Anti-freezing flexible aqueous Zn–MnO₂ batteries working at −35 °C enabled by a borax-crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol/glycerol gel electrolyte