A leather-based electrolyte for all-in-one configured flexible supercapacitors
Kang Zhang1, Xueyan Zhang1, Binghua Zou1
1Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China. iamfwhuo@njtech.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|June 6, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a sustainable leather-based flexible supercapacitor using a novel gel electrolyte. This innovation addresses interface challenges and offers a biodegradable, reproducible energy storage solution.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Flexible energy storage devices face challenges with interfacial stability and material sustainability.
- Traditional electrolytes often lack biodegradability and rely on non-renewable resources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, sustainable, and biodegradable gel electrolyte from hydrolyzed leather.
- To fabricate an all-in-one flexible supercapacitor utilizing this leather-based gel electrolyte.
- To investigate the impact of collagen's hierarchical structure on device performance.
Main Methods:
- A top-down approach involving partial hydrolysis of leather to create a gel electrolyte.
- Fabrication of a flexible supercapacitor device integrating the leather-based gel electrolyte.
- Analysis of the collagen fiber structure and its role in interfacial properties.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of a leather-based gel electrolyte with inherent degradability and reproducibility.
- Development of a functional all-in-one flexible supercapacitor with improved interfacial contact.
- Demonstration of collagen's hierarchical structure mitigating interface issues in flexible devices.
Conclusions:
- Leather-based gel electrolytes offer a sustainable alternative for flexible energy storage.
- The hierarchical collagen structure is key to enhancing interfacial stability in supercapacitors.
- This approach presents a promising pathway for eco-friendly and high-performance flexible electronics.
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