Citation: Yu Wang, Kun Ding, Xuerong Gong, Shou Chen, Ao Sun, Junxi Zhang, Baofeng Wang. Hydrogen bonding-reinforced multi-component cross-linked hydrogel electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and stretchability for stabilized zinc anodes[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 111078. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111078 shu

Hydrogen bonding-reinforced multi-component cross-linked hydrogel electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and stretchability for stabilized zinc anodes

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Protection and Advanced Materials in Electric Power, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 200090, China

kunding@shiep.edu.cn

wangbaofeng@shiep.edu.cn

Received Date: 17 January 2025
Revised Date: 27 February 2025
Accepted Date: 12 March 2025
Available Online: 12 March 2025

Figures(5)

Hydrogel electrolytes are widely used in zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) due to their advantages of regulating zinc deposition/stripping process, and limiting dendrite growth. However, their relatively poor ionic conductivity and mechanical properties remain significant obstacles to their practical application in ZIBs. Herein, the multi-component cross-linked polyacrylamide/carboxymethyl cellulose/agarose (PCA) hydrogel polymerized electrolytes are designed via a heat-initiated polymerization approach. The PCA hydrogel electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivity of 38.78 mS/cm and excellent mechanical strength from 2.9 MPa to 5.6 MPa. Meanwhile, the ample hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups on the PCA hydrogel electrolytes chain can capture and anchor H₂O molecules via hydrogen bonding, thus fundamentally regulating the coordination environment of Zn²⁺ and inhibiting side reactions. The combined effect of carboxyl (-COOH) groups and amino (-NH₂) groups in PCA hydrogel electrolytes can induce the uniform deposition of zinc ions. Consequently, The Zn//Zn symmetrical cell assembled with this hydrogel electrolytes demonstrate excellent cycling stability over 2500 h at the current density of 1 mA/cm². Furthermore, the Zn//MnO₂/CNT full cell retains a specific capacity of 127.2 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at 1 A/g, with 97.8% capacity retention.
- Zn-ion batteries,
- Hydrogel electrolytes,
- Zn anode,
- Dendrites,
- Solvation structure
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