Porous Hydrogel Electrolytes with Enhanced Ionic Conductivity for High-Power-Density Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries

Solid-state electrolytes are critical components in flexible zinc-air batteries, significantly influencing their overall performance. Traditional hydrogels, however, exhibit limited ion transmission rates, restricting their utility in these batteries. To address this issue, a porous hydrogel electrolyte composed of Polyacrylamide(PAM) and fabricated through SiO₂ etching inspired by onion cell tissue was developed. The porous structure effectively absorbs substantial amounts of electrolyte, thereby minimizing ion transport resistance within the hydrogel electrolyte. This design enhances the ionic conductivity of the hydrogel to 350.2 mS·cm^-1, achieving a peak power density of 155 mW·cm^-2 and a prolonged operational lifetime of 62.6 h. During practical application, the battery demonstrates superior performance, underscoring the significant potential for advancing flexible zinc-air battery technologies.