Hierarchical-Heterogeneous Biogel Electrolytes Regulate Zinc Anode Interfacial Compatibility Towards Green and
Zihao Wang1,2, Tianyu Zhu3, Chengsheng Gui4
1State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|January 8, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel biogel electrolyte for solid-state zinc-ion hybrid capacitors. This new material enhances anode compatibility and enables stable, high-performance energy storage across a wide temperature range.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Gel electrolytes are crucial for solid-state Zn-ion hybrid capacitors due to their ionic conductivity and flexibility.
- Existing gel electrolytes exhibit poor interfacial compatibility with rigid Zn anodes, causing device degradation.
- Developing advanced electrolytes is key to improving the performance and stability of Zn-ion capacitors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a biogel electrolyte with enhanced interfacial compatibility for Zn anodes.
- To improve the electrochemical performance and cycling stability of solid-state Zn-ion hybrid capacitors.
- To demonstrate the practical application of the developed biogel electrolyte in powering portable electronics.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a biogel electrolyte via in situ crystallization of gelatin triple helix units within an alginate polymer domain.
- Characterization of the biogel electrolyte's hierarchical-heterogeneous structure and properties, including ionic conductivity, toughness, and adhesion.
- Assembly and testing of symmetric Zn||Zn cells and zinc||activated carbon hybrid capacitors under various conditions, including low temperatures.
Main Results:
- The biogel electrolyte exhibits high toughness, temperature-triggered adhesion, a high Zn2+ transference number, and temperature-independent ionic conductivity.
- The unique structure facilitates 3D Zn2+ diffusion and accommodates Zn anode volume changes, leading to improved cell performance.
- The hybrid capacitor demonstrated exceptional capacitive behavior, stable operation from 25°C to -40°C, and high capacity retention over 10,000 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The developed biogel electrolyte offers a promising solution for overcoming interfacial challenges in solid-state Zn-ion hybrid capacitors.
- The material enables high-performance energy storage with excellent stability, particularly at low temperatures.
- The system-level demonstration validates the potential of these hybrid capacitors as green power sources for portable electronics.
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