A Flexible and Transparent Zinc‐Nanofiber Network Electrode for Wearable Electrochromic, Rechargeable Zn‐Ion Battery
Soram Bobby Singh, Duy Thanh Tran, Kwang‐Un Jeong, Nam Hoon Kim, Joong Hee Lee
Abstract
Abstract The flexible electrochromic Zn‐ion battery (FE‐ZiB), a newly born energy‐storage technology having both electrochromic characteristics and energy‐storage capability in a single device, will be a promising technology for the future transparent wearable electronics. However, the current technology limits the fabrication of FE‐ZIB because the zinc (Zn) anode material is opaque and rigid. The development of a flexible and transparent Zn anode is the key factor to overcoming the current limitation. Here, for the first time, a flexible, transparent zinc‐nanofiber network anode electrode (Zn@Ni@AgNFs) is reported for an FE‐ZiB device that yields a remarkable electrochemical performance of a high areal capacity of 174.82 mA h m 2 at 0.013 mA cm −2 applied current density, high optical contrast (50%), and excellent mechanical flexibility. The fabricated FE‐ZiB device also exhibits a high volumetric energy density of 378.8 W h m −3 at a power density of 562.7 W m −3 . Besides, the FE‐ZiB demonstrates excellent electrochromic capability with a reversible color transition from a transparent in a discharged state (0.3 V) to a dark bluish‐violet in a charged state (1.6 V). These results highlight a new pathway for the development of transparent batteries for smart wearable electronic devices.