Water-Triggered Reconfigurable Glycerogels for Sustainable All-Gel Supercapacitors

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Conventional synthetic gels possess static polymeric structures, limiting their durability and recyclability.
• Biological tissues offer a model for dynamic reconfigurability, featuring self-repair and regeneration.
• There is a need for advanced materials that mimic biological systems for improved device performance and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel reconfigurable biopolymer gel inspired by biological tissue regeneration.
• To demonstrate the gel's responsiveness to an eco-friendly trigger (water) for on-demand molecular reconfiguration.
• To prototype a high-performance, self-healing, and recyclable all-gel supercapacitor.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a glycerol-mediated supramolecular gelation strategy to create reconfigurable biopolymer gels.
• Investigated the gel's response to water as an eco-friendly triggering agent for molecular reconfiguration.
• Fabricated an all-gel supercapacitor using reconfigurable glycerogel electrodes and electrolytes.

Main Results:

• The reconfigurable gel demonstrated on-demand molecular-level reconfiguration triggered by water.
• The prototype supercapacitor exhibited exceptional self-healing, degradation, and rebuilding capabilities.
• The device maintained excellent energy storage performance (450 mF cm^-2) and durability across extreme conditions (-20 to 80 °C, mechanical deformations).
• Remarkable capacitance retention (89% after 20,000 cycles) and post-healing/rebuilding performance (91-110%) were achieved.

Conclusions:

• The generalized strategy enables the creation of multifunctional reconfigurable gels with tunable properties.
• This approach facilitates the development of advanced flexible and wearable devices with enhanced durability and recyclability.
• The reconfigurable glycerogel system offers a promising platform for next-generation energy storage solutions.