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Choline Lactate Photocured Hydrogels for Sustainable Low-Temperature Supercapacitors
Joanna Fijałkowska1, Julianna Czerniawska1, Beata Sikora1
1Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, Poland.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 27, 2026
Summary
New hydrogel electrolytes using choline lactate enable flexible, sustainable energy storage at low temperatures. These materials demonstrate stable supercapacitor performance down to -20 °C, overcoming challenges in environmentally friendly power solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Growing demand for flexible and eco-friendly energy storage solutions.
- Need for electrolyte materials that perform effectively at low temperatures.
- Interest in sustainable and biodegradable components for energy devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop and evaluate hydrogel polymer electrolytes based on aqueous choline lactate solutions for supercapacitor applications.
- Investigate the properties of choline lactate-based hydrogels for low-temperature energy storage.
- Assess the performance and stability of these hydrogels in supercapacitors across a range of temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of choline lactate from biodegradable and low-toxicity substrates.
- Characterization of choline lactate using spectroscopic and thermal analysis.
- Preparation and optimization of aqueous electrolytes with varying salt concentrations.
- Photopolymerization to synthesize hydrogel electrolytes.
- Evaluation of hydrogel properties including viscosity, density, ionic conductivity, flexibility, and thermal stability.
- Electrochemical testing of supercapacitors using the developed hydrogels at different temperatures.
Main Results:
- Choline lactate effectively suppressed water crystallization, achieving phase transition temperatures below -44 °C.
- Hydrogels exhibited good flexibility, transparency, and structural stability with no electrolyte leakage.
- Optimal hydrogel composition (90 wt% electrolyte) reached an ionic conductivity of 22.3 mS·cm-1 at room temperature.
- Supercapacitors operated stably between 25 °C and -20 °C.
- Lower operating temperatures resulted in decreased capacitance and increased internal resistance.
Conclusions:
- Choline lactate-based hydrogel electrolytes are promising for sustainable low-temperature energy storage.
- The developed materials offer a viable alternative for flexible and environmentally friendly supercapacitors.
- Further research can optimize these hydrogels for enhanced low-temperature performance and wider energy storage applications.
