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Unlocking an All-Anisotropic-Component Integrated Paradigm Toward Practical Solid-State Zinc Metal Pouch Cells
Dingtao Ma1, Xiaodan Yang2, Ming Yang1
1College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|June 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel wood-based battery design for high-safety, low-cost zinc batteries. This innovative approach significantly boosts energy density, overcoming a key limitation for practical energy storage applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Energy Storage
Background:
- Zinc metal batteries offer high safety and low cost but suffer from limited energy density.
- Developing high-specific-energy energy storage devices is crucial for practical applications.
- Existing battery technologies face challenges in balancing performance, cost, and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an integrated model for high-specific-energy zinc-based batteries using anisotropic components.
- To utilize natural and recyclable wood-based materials for enhanced battery performance.
- To overcome the energy density bottleneck in zinc metal batteries.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a lightweight, carbonized wood material as a universal current collector for both cathode and anode.
- Development of a phosphate-modified cellulose-based hydrogel with vertically aligned channels for improved electrode-electrolyte interface compatibility.
- Integration of these components into a Zn||Ca-MnO2 pouch cell configuration.
Main Results:
- Stable cycling of Zn||Ca-MnO2 pouch cells achieved at high mass loading (50.13 mg cm-2) and wide temperature range (-30°C to 60°C).
- A maximum energy density of 173.2 Wh kg-1 was recorded at 0.1 A g-1, surpassing most previous findings.
- Demonstrated high electrochemical compatibility between electrode and electrolyte interfaces.
Conclusions:
- The proposed wood-based battery structure model enables high-specific-energy and stable zinc metal batteries.
- This design is versatile and applicable to various cathode chemistries (vanadium, manganese) and multielectron reaction systems.
- Promotes the development of economical and efficient non-lithium energy storage solutions.
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