Inkjet-printed flexible planar Zn-MnO₂ battery on paper substrate.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Wearable electronics require safe, non-toxic energy storage devices (ESD) that are flexible.
• Zinc-based batteries using aqueous electrolytes offer a safe and non-toxic alternative.
• Flexible form factors are crucial for conforming to wearable device designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an inkjet-printed Zinc ion battery (IPZIB) on a paper substrate.
• To investigate the electrochemical performance of the IPZIB for flexible electronics.
• To demonstrate the device's functionality under mechanical stress.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an IPZIB using Zn anode, MnO2 cathode, PEDOT:PSS binder, and rGO current collectors on paper.
• Inkjet printing technique for planar electrode configuration.
• Performance testing including discharge capacity, energy density, and power density measurements.

Main Results:

• The IPZIB achieved a high discharge capacity of 300.14 mAh g-1 at 200 mA g-1.
• Observed energy density of 330.15 Wh kg-1 at 220 W kg-1, retaining 94.36 Wh kg-1 at 1650 W kg-1.
• Demonstrated successful powering of an LED under various bending and folding conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed IPZIB is a promising energy storage solution for flexible and wearable electronics.
• The use of paper substrate and inkjet printing offers a scalable and cost-effective fabrication method.
• The device's mechanical flexibility and performance highlight its potential for next-generation electronic applications.