Hydrogel-based electrolytes for tunable/enhanced ion transport in water-based zinc (Zn) batteries
Water-based Zn-batteries have gained significant attention owing to their promising potential as sustainable energy storage solutions. However, challenges persist in optimizing their performance, particularly concerning ion transport within the electrolyte. Currently, we investigate the utilization of various hydrogels as electrolytes in Zn-batteries to tailor ion transport properties.
Hydrogels, with their tunable physicochemical properties, offer a versatile platform for enhancing ion transport in Zn-batteries. By systematically employing different kinds of hydrogels (e.g., hyaluronic acid, zwitterionic polymers, polyelectrolytes, and cellulose-based hydrogels), we aim to elucidate the influence of the different hydrogels, their structure, porosity, and charge-density on the ion diffusion kinetics and overall battery performance. The incorporation of hydrogel-based electrolytes is expected to mitigate issues such as zinc dendrite formation, hydrogen evolution, and electrolyte depletion, thereby improving the cycling stability, overall performance, and safety.
Experimental characterization techniques including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry will be employed to assess the ion transport properties and electrochemical performance within the Zn-batteries. Furthermore, scattering techniques such as SAXS and SANS are used to obtain structural properties of the hydrogels. In combination, our findings aim to provide insights into the design and optimization of water-based Zn batteries, paving the way for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly energy storage technologies.
Figure 1: Schematic of an hydrogel-based batterie. (Figure taken from P. Yang et al., Hydrogels Enable Future Smart Batteries, ACS Nano, 2022, 16, 10, 15528–15536)
Are you interested in developing next generation batteries? Please reach out to me via lucas.kreuzer@frm2.tum.de, currently there are open positions for master and bachelor students.
