Flexible Zn‐Ion Batteries: Recent Progresses and Challenges

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 15; no. 7; pp. e1804760 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yu, Peng, Zeng, Yinxiang, Zhang, Haozhe, Yu, Minghao, Tong, Yexiang, Lu, Xihong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2019
• Subjects: device design; Electronic devices; Electronics; Energy storage; flexible; Flexible components; Nanotechnology; Power supplies; solid‐state; Storage batteries; Zn‐ion batteries; Zn-ion batteries; device design; flexible; solid-state
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804760

To keep pace with the increasing pursuit of portable and wearable electronics, it is urgent to develop advanced flexible power supplies. In this context, Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered increasing attention as favorable energy storage devices for flexible electronics, owing to the high capacity, low cost, abundant resources, high safety, and eco‐friendliness. Extensive efforts have been devoted to developing flexible ZIBs in the last few years. This work summarizes the recent achievements in the design, fabrication, and characterization of flexible ZIBs. Representative structures, such as sandwich and cable type, are particularly highlighted. Special emphasis is put on the novel design of electrolyte and electrode, which aims to endow reliable flexibility to the fabricated ZIBs. Moreover, current challenges and future opportunities for the development of high‐performance flexible ZIBs are also outlined. The recent development of electrode materials, gel electrolytes, and device configurations for flexible zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) is reviewed. Recent progresses in flexible ZIBs are discussed by briefly categorizing into Zn–Mn based, Zn–V based, Zn–Prussian blue analog based, and the other ZIBs. The current challenges and future opportunities for the development of flexible ZIBs are also discussed.