A Liquid Metal Microdroplets Initialized Hemicellulose Composite for 3D Printing Anode Host in Zn‐Ion Battery
Ge Shi, Xinwen Peng, Jiaming Zeng, Linxin Zhong, Yuan Sun, Yang Wu, Yu Lin Zhong, Yuxuan Zhu, Ren Zou, Shimelis Admassie, Zhao‐Qing Liu, Chuanfu Liu, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha, Jun Lü
Abstract
Abstract Maintaining a steady affinity between gallium‐based liquid metals (LM) and polymer binders, particularly under continuous mechanical deformation, such as extrusion‐based 3D printing or plating/stripping of Zinc ion (Zn 2+ ), is very challenging. Here, an LM‐initialized polyacrylamide‐hemicellulose/EGaIn microdroplets hydrogel is used as a multifunctional ink to 3D‐print self‐standing scaffolds and anode hosts for Zn‐ion batteries. The LM microdroplets initiate acrylamide polymerization without additional initiators and cross‐linkers, forming a double‐covalent hydrogen‐bonded network. The hydrogel acts as a framework for stress dissipation, enabling recovery from structural damage due to the cyclic plating/stripping of Zn 2+ . The LM‐microdroplet‐initialized polymerization with hemicelluloses can facilitate the production of 3D printable inks for energy storage devices.