Achieving High Ionic Conductivity and Mechanical Strength by a Leather Gel Electrolyte for Flexible Zinc-Ion Batteries
Jiansheng Wu, Xinxin Liu, Wenhui Zhang, Yangshen Chen, Mengxiao Yang, Mengyu Liu, Shiyi Shen, Baoli Zha, Fengwei Huo
Abstract
The continuous advancement in the field of flexible and wearable electronics has led to increased research interest in safe, low-cost, and flexible zinc-ion batteries, particularly with a focus on flexible electrolytes. In this study, we present a leather gel electrolyte (LGE) that offers robust mechanical properties and an excellent electrochemical performance. LGE exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.36 × 10 –2 S cm –1 and achieves a capacity of 303.7 mAh g –1 in flexible zinc–manganese dioxide batteries. Even after 1000 cycles, the capacity retention remains above 90%, demonstrating outstanding performance in protecting the zinc anode. Furthermore, such a flexible battery shows good resistance to damage due to the strong mechanical strength originating from leather. Notably, LGE utilizes green and sustainable leather as a raw material, making it a promising option for sustainable flexible devices.