Hydrogel Electrolytes-Based Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries under Harsh Conditions

Zhaoxi Shen; Zicheng Zhai; Yu Liu; Xuewei Bao; Yuechong Zhu; Tong Zhang; Linsen Li; Guo Hong; Ning Zhang

doi:10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y

Hydrogel Electrolytes-Based Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries under Harsh Conditions

Zhaoxi Shen
, Zicheng Zhai
, Yu Liu
, Xuewei Bao
, Yuechong Zhu
, Tong Zhang
, Linsen Li
, Guo Hong^*
, Ning Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

22 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined. © The Author(s) 2025.

Original language	English
Article number	227
Journal	Nano-Micro Letters
Volume	17
Online published	22 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y
Publication status	Published - 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22379038), Science Research Project of Hebei Education Department (JZX2024015), Shijiazhuang Science and Technology Plan Project (241791357A), Central Guidance for Local Science and Technology Development Funds Project (246Z4408G), Excellent Youth Research Innovation Team of Hebei University (QNTD202410), High-level Talents Research Start-Up Project of Hebei University (521100224223), and Hebei Province Innovation Capability Enhancement Plan Project (22567620H).

Research Keywords

Design strategies
Energy storage
Harsh conditions
Hydrogel electrolytes
Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries

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This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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title = "Hydrogel Electrolytes-Based Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries under Harsh Conditions",

abstract = "Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

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author = "Zhaoxi Shen and Zicheng Zhai and Yu Liu and Xuewei Bao and Yuechong Zhu and Tong Zhang and Linsen Li and Guo Hong and Ning Zhang",

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doi = "10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y",

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AU - Shen, Zhaoxi

AU - Zhai, Zicheng

AU - Liu, Yu

AU - Bao, Xuewei

AU - Zhu, Yuechong

AU - Zhang, Tong

AU - Li, Linsen

AU - Hong, Guo

AU - Zhang, Ning

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined. © The Author(s) 2025.

AB - Rechargeable zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (RZIBs) with hydrogel electrolytes (HEs) have gained significant attention in the last decade owing to their high safety, low cost, sufficient material abundance, and superb environmental friendliness, which is extremely important for wearable energy storage applications. Given that HEs play a critical role in building flexible RZIBs, it is urgent to summarize the recent advances in this field and elucidate the design principles of HEs for practical applications. This review systematically presents the development history, recent advances in the material fundamentals, functional designs, challenges, and prospects of the HEs-based RZIBs. Firstly, the fundamentals, species, and flexible mechanisms of HEs are discussed, along with their compatibility with Zn anodes and various cathodes. Then, the functional designs of hydrogel electrolytes in harsh conditions are comprehensively discussed, including high/low/wide-temperature windows, mechanical deformations (e.g., bending, twisting, and straining), and damages (e.g., cutting, burning, and soaking). Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives for advancing HEs-based RZIBs are outlined. © The Author(s) 2025.

KW - Design strategies

KW - Energy storage

KW - Harsh conditions

KW - Hydrogel electrolytes

KW - Rechargeable zinc-ion batteries

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U2 - 10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y

DO - 10.1007/s40820-025-01727-y

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

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JO - Nano-Micro Letters

JF - Nano-Micro Letters

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ER -

Hydrogel Electrolytes-Based Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Batteries under Harsh Conditions

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