A flexible, electrochromic, rechargeable Zn-ion battery based on actiniae-like self-doped polyaniline cathode

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Vol. 8; no. 25; pp. 12799 - 1289
• Main Authors: Wang, Yi, Jiang, Hedong, Zheng, Rongzong, Pan, Jianbo, Niu, Junlong, Zou, Xinlei, Jia, Chunyang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 07.07.2020
• Subjects: Capacitance; Cathodes; Color; Copolymerization; Diffusion rate; Electrochemistry; Electrochromism; Energy storage; Ion diffusion; Morphology; Polyanilines; Rechargeable batteries; Specific capacity; Zinc
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ta04203j

Flexible/wearable electrochromic zinc-ion battery (EC-ZIB) is considered to be promising smart multifunctional energy storage devices that monitor energy storage on the basis of their color variation. Herein, a self-doped PANI (SPANI) electrode has been prepared by a facile electrochemical copolymerization process. The prepared SPANI film exhibits a novel actiniae-like morphology, which is beneficial for electrolyte infiltration due to short ion diffusion pathways and fast electrochemical kinetics that ensure enhanced specific capacity. In a full all-in-one EC-ZIB device, the SPANI cathode provides a high specific capacitance of 180.5 mA h g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 , excellent rate capability of 75.3% capacity retention even at a 20-fold current-density increase. The EC-ZIB possesses high energy and power densities (181.1 W h kg −1 @ 501.8 W kg −1 and 124.7 W h kg −1 @ 9148.6 W kg −1 ). At the same time, another positive is that the EC-ZIB has excellent electrochromic properties (light yellow, green and dark green) from 0.5 to 1.6 V. Therefore, its energy storage can be conveniently monitored according to color variation. The EC-ZIB efficiently combines multiple smart features, promoting the development of flexible intelligent energy storage devices. A flexible, electrochromic, rechargeable Zn-ion battery, with a monitoring function of the energy storage according to color variation, has been prepared and characterized.