Tough and temperature-tolerance cellulose/polyacrylic acid/bentonite hydrogel with high ionic conductivity enables...

Solid-state zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs) featuring hydrogel electrolytes have become ideal for large-scale flexible energy storage. However, existing polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel electrolytes often lack the combined traits of ionic conductivity, mechanical robustness, and temperature tolerance. Herein, a versatile PAA-based hydrogel electrolyte (ACBH-Zn) containing a ZnCl₂-cellulose solution and bentonite (BT) is delivered, facilitated by cooperative coordination bonds and hydrogen bonds. The coordination bonds between Zn²⁺ and -COOH of PAA, in conjunction with cellulose and BT, alongside the abundant hydrogen bonds within cellulose and PAA, are conducive to upgrading mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, while the BT's lamellar structure further provides sufficient ion migration channels. Consequently, the ACBH-Zn showcases exceptional mechanical properties, satisfying ionic conductivity (88.9 mS cm^-1), and excellent temperature tolerance at -60 °C (30.3 mS cm^-1). The ACBH-ZHSC, when assembled, attains a remarkable maximum energy density (323.4 Wh kg^-1), maintaining an impressive capacity retention rate (92 %) even after undergoing 10,000 cycles at 10.0 A g^-1. Furthermore, the assembled self-powered triboelectric wearable electronic device effectively converts mechanical energy from human movement into electrical energy, enabling efficient storage and utilization, and offering promising insights into the application of flexible wearable devices.