Flexible Aqueous Lithium‐Ion Battery with High Safety and Large Volumetric Energy Density

A flexible and wearable aqueous lithium‐ion battery is introduced based on spinel Li_1.1Mn₂O₄ cathode and a carbon‐coated NASICON‐type LiTi₂(PO₄)₃ anode (NASICON=sodium‐ion super ionic conductor). Energy densities of 63 Wh kg^?1 or 124 mWh cm^?3 and power densities of 3 275 W kg^?1 or 11.1 W cm^?3 can be obtained, which are seven times larger than the largest reported till now. The full cell can keep its capacity without significant loss under different bending states, which shows excellent flexibility. Furthermore, two such flexible cells in series with an operation voltage of 4 V can be compatible with current nonaqueous Li‐ion batteries. Therefore, such a flexible cell can potentially be put into practical applications for wearable electronics. In addition, a self‐chargeable unit is realized by integrating a single flexible aqueous Li‐ion battery with a commercial flexible solar cell, which may facilitate the long‐time outdoor operation of flexible and wearable electronic devices.     

Fabrication of 3D ordered needle-like polyaniline@hollow carbon nanofibers composites for flexible supercapacitors

Carbon nanofiber-based supercapacitors have broad prospects in powering wearable electronics owing to their high specific capacity,fast charge/discharge process,along with long-cycling life.Herein,a poly(ac rylo n it rile-co-β-methyl hydrogen itaconate) copolymer was prepared and used to synthesize flexible hollow carbon nanofibers(HCNFs) via an electrospinning method without breaking after multiple bending.Subsequently,the inner and outer surfaces of HCNFs were evenly covered with ordered needlelike polyaniline(PANI) through in-situ polymerization methods to obtain three-dimensional flexible HCNFs/PANI composites,which exhibited a high capacity 1196.7 F/g at 1 A/g and good cycling stability(90.1% retention at 5 A/g after 3000 cycles).The symmetrical supercapacitor based on the HCNFs/PANI composites also delive red an outsta nding electrochemical performance with high energy/power density(60.28 Wh/kg at 1000 W/kg) and superior cycling durability(90% capacitance retention after at 5 A/g3000 cycles),which confirmed that the HCNFs/PANI composites had a wide application potential in flexible energy storage devices.     

Flexible,Stretchable, and Rechargeable Fiber‐Shaped Zinc–Air Battery Based on Cross‐Stacked Carbon Nanotube Sheets

The fabrication of flexible, stretchable and rechargeable devices with a high energy density is critical for next‐generation electronics. Herein, fiber‐shaped Zn–air batteries, are realized for the first time by designing aligned, cross‐stacked and porous carbon nanotube sheets simultaneously that behave as a gas diffusion layer, a catalyst layer, and a current collector. The combined remarkable electronic and mechanical properties of the aligned carbon nanotube sheets endow good electrochemical properties. They display excellent discharge and charge performances at a high current density of 2 A g⁻¹. They are also flexible and stretchable, which is particularly promising to power portable and wearable electronic devices.     

Flexible,Stretchable, and Rechargeable Fiber‐Shaped Zinc–Air Battery Based on Cross‐Stacked Carbon Nanotube Sheets

The fabrication of flexible, stretchable and rechargeable devices with a high energy density is critical for next‐generation electronics. Herein, fiber‐shaped Zn–air batteries, are realized for the first time by designing aligned, cross‐stacked and porous carbon nanotube sheets simultaneously that behave as a gas diffusion layer, a catalyst layer, and a current collector. The combined remarkable electronic and mechanical properties of the aligned carbon nanotube sheets endow good electrochemical properties. They display excellent discharge and charge performances at a high current density of 2 A g^?1. They are also flexible and stretchable, which is particularly promising to power portable and wearable electronic devices.     

Paper-based all-solid-state flexible asymmetric micro-supercapacitors fabricated by a simple pencil drawing methodology

A simple and novel methodology was developed for manufacturing interdigitated asymmetric all-solid-state flexible micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) by a facile pencil drawing process followed by electrodepositing MnO₂ on one of the as-drawn graphite electrode as anode and the other as cathode.     

Laser processed micro-supercapacitors based on carbon nanotubes/manganese dioxide nanosheets composite with excellent electrochemical performance and aesthetic property

A laser processed micro-supercapacitor (LPMS) based on carbon nanotubes/manganese dioxide composite is fabricated through slurry dispensing and laser scribing techniques. This device presents superior electrochemical performance and aesthetic property.     

Flexible carbon membrane supercapacitor based on γ-cyclodextrin-MOF

Supercapacitors (SCs) with high energy density and power density are a research hotspot. Herein, we report a flexible porous carbon membrane supercapacitor prepared by electrospinning polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with γ-cyclodextrin-MOF (γ-CD-MOF) and then carbonizing at 900 °C. BET results showed that the supercapacitor retained the skeleton of γ-CD, γ-CD-MOF and the pores formed by the spun-fibers, which were 0.73, 1.09 and 23–186 nm, respectively, showing a high specific surface area of 134.7 m²/g. The hierarchically porous structures ensure rapid charge transfer and ion diffusion, resulting in the PAN/γ-CD-MOF carbon electrode with a high capacity of 283.3 F/g. Moreover, the supercapacitor had a high energy density up to 17.5 Wh/kg and power density up to 6 kW/kg. Significantly, it showed excellent cycle stability with a capacitance retention of 97.5% after 6000 cycles. This work provides a supramolecular strategy to construct a flexible porous carbon membrane, which has potential for supercapacitor applications.     

An Environmentally Friendly and Flexible Aqueous Zinc Battery Using an Organic Cathode

Rechargeable batteries have been used to power various electric devices and store energy from renewables, but their toxic components (namely, electrode materials, electrolyte, and separator) generally cause serious environment issues when disused. Such toxicity characteristic makes them difficult to power future wearable electronic devices. Now an environmentally friendly and highly safe rechargeable battery, based on a pyrene‐4,5,9,10‐tetraone (PTO) cathode and zinc anode in mild aqueous electrolyte is presented. The PTO‐cathode shows a high specific capacity (336 mAh g^?1) for Zn²⁺ storage with fast kinetics and high reversibility. Thus, the PTO//Zn full cell exhibits a high energy density (186.7 Wh kg^?1), supercapacitor‐like power behavior and long‐term lifespan (over 1000 cycles). Moreover, a belt‐shaped PTO//Zn battery with robust mechanical durability and remarkable flexibility is first fabricated to clarify its potential application in wearable electronic devices.     

A Rechargeable Li‐CO2 Battery with a Gel Polymer Electrolyte

The utilization of CO₂ in Li‐CO₂ batteries is attracting extensive attention. However, the poor rechargeability and low applied current density have remained the Achilles’ heel of this energy device. The gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), which is composed of a polymer matrix filled with tetraglyme‐based liquid electrolyte, was used to fabricate a rechargeable Li‐CO₂ battery with a carbon nanotube‐based gas electrode. The discharge product of Li₂CO₃ formed in the GPE‐based Li‐CO₂ battery exhibits a particle‐shaped morphology with poor crystallinity, which is different from the contiguous polymer‐like and crystalline discharge product in conventional Li‐CO₂ battery using a liquid electrolyte. Accordingly, the GPE‐based battery shows much improved electrochemical performance. The achieved cycle life (60 cycles) and rate capability (maximum applied current density of 500 mA g⁻¹) are much higher than most of previous reports, which points a new way to develop high‐performance Li‐CO₂ batteries.     

Realizing both High Energy and High Power Densities by Twisting Three Carbon‐Nanotube‐Based Hybrid Fibers

Energy storage devices, such as lithium‐ion batteries and supercapacitors, are required for the modern electronics. However, the intrinsic characteristics of low power densities in batteries and low energy densities in supercapacitors have limited their applications. How to simultaneously realize high energy and power densities in one device remains a challenge. Herein a fiber‐shaped hybrid energy‐storage device (FESD) formed by twisting three carbon nanotube hybrid fibers demonstrates both high energy and power densities. For the FESD, the energy density (50 mWh cm^?3 or 90 Wh kg^?1) many times higher than for other forms of supercapacitors and approximately 3 times that of thin‐film batteries; the power density (1 W cm^?3 or 5970 W kg^?1) is approximately 140 times of thin‐film lithium‐ion battery. The FESD is flexible, weaveable and wearable, which offers promising advantages in the modern electronics.     

High‐Performance Lithium–Air Battery with a Coaxial‐Fiber Architecture

The lithium–air battery has been proposed as the next‐generation energy‐storage device with a much higher energy density compared with the conventional lithium‐ion battery. However, lithium–air batteries currently suffer enormous problems including parasitic reactions, low recyclability in air, degradation, and leakage of liquid electrolyte. Besides, they are designed into a rigid bulk structure that cannot meet the flexible requirement in the modern electronics. Herein, for the first time, a new family of fiber‐shaped lithium–air batteries with high electrochemical performances and flexibility has been developed. The battery exhibited a discharge capacity of 12 470 mAh g^?1 and could stably work for 100 cycles in air; its electrochemical performances were well maintained under bending and after bending. It was also wearable and formed flexible power textiles for various electronic devices.     

Freestanding Carbon Nanotube Film for Flexible Straplike Lithium/Sulfur Batteries

Flexible lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries are promising to meet the emerging power demand for flexible electronic devices. The key challenge for a flexible Li/S battery is to design a cathode with excellent electrochemical performance and mechanical flexibility. In this work, a flexible strap-like Li/S battery based on a S@carbon nanotube/Pt@carbon nanotube hybrid film cathode was designed. It delivers a specific capacity of 1145 mAh g⁻¹ at the first cycle and retains a specific capacity of 822 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles. Moreover, the flexible Li/S battery retains stabile specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency even under severe bending conditions. As a demonstration of practical applications, an LED array is shown stably powered by the flexible Li/S battery under flattened and bent states. We also use the strap-like flexible Li/S battery as a real strap for a watch, which at the same time provides a reliable power supply to the watch.     

Anisotropic Boron–Carbon Hetero-Nanosheets for Ultrahigh Energy Density Supercapacitors

A 2D boron nanosheet that exhibits high theoretical capacitance, around four times that of graphene, is a significant supercapacitor electrode. However, its bulk structure with low interlaminar conduction and porosity restricts the charge transfer, ion diffusion, and energy density. Herein, we develop a new 2D hetero-nanosheet made of anisotropic boron–carbon nanosheets (ABCNs) by B−C chemical bonds via gas-phase exfoliation and condensation bottom-up strategy. The ABCNs are constructed into high flexible supercapacitor electrode by microfluidic electrospinning. The ABCN electrode greatly promotes smooth migration and excessive storage of electrolyte ions due to large interlayer conductivity, ionic pathways, and accessible surfaces. The flexible supercapacitor delivers ultrahigh volumetric energy density of 167.05 mWh cm⁻³ and capacitance of 534.5 F cm⁻³. A wearable energy-sensor system is designed to stably monitor physiological signals.     

Cold-Resistant Nitrogen/Sulfur Dual-Doped Graphene Fiber Supercapacitors with Solar–Thermal Energy Conversion Effect

Although graphene fiber-based supercapacitors are promising for wearable electronic devices, the low energy density of electrodes and poor cold resistance of aqueous electrolytes limit their wide application in cold environments. Herein, porous nitrogen/sulfur dual-doped graphene fibers (NS-GFs) are synthesized by hydrothermal self-assembly followed by thermal annealing, exhibiting an excellent capacitive performance of 401 F cm⁻³ at 400 mA cm⁻³ because of the synergistic effect of heteroatom dual-doping. The assembled symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitor with polyvinyl alcohol/H₂SO₄/graphene oxide gel electrolyte exhibits a high capacitance of 221 F cm⁻³ and a high energy density of 7.7 mWh cm⁻³ at 80 mA cm⁻³. Interestingly, solar–thermal energy conversion of the electrolyte with 0.1 wt % graphene oxide extends the operating temperature range of the supercapacitor to 0 °C. Furthermore, the photocatalysis effect of the dual-doped heteroatoms increases the capacitance of NS-GFs. At an ambient temperature of 0 °C, the capacitance increases from 0 to 182 F cm⁻³ under 1 sun irradiation because of the excellent solar light absorption and efficient solar–thermal energy conversion of graphene oxide, preventing the aqueous electrolyte from freezing. The flexible supercapacitor exhibits a long cycle life, good bending resistance, reliable scalability, and ability to power visual electronics, showing great potential for outdoor electronics in cold environments.     

Two-Dimensional Layered Metallic VSe2/SWCNTs/rGO Based Ternary Hybrid Materials for High Performance Energy Storage Applications

In this work, the ternary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO is reported for supercapacitor applications. The ternary composite exhibits a high specific capacitance of 450 F g⁻¹ in a symmetric cell configuration, with maximum energy density of 131.4 Wh kg⁻¹ and power density of 27.49 kW kg⁻¹. The ternary hybrid also shows a cyclic stability of 91 % after 5000 cycles. Extensive density functional theory (DFT) simulations on the structure as well as on the electronic properties of the binary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs and the ternary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO have been carried out. Due to a synergic effect, there are enhanced density of states near the Fermi level and higher quantum capacitance for the hybrid ternary structure compared to VSe₂/SWCNTs, leading to higher energy and power density for VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO, supporting our experimental observation. Computed diffusion energy barrier of electrolyte ions (K⁺) predicts that ions move faster in the ternary structure, providing higher charge storage performance.     

An aqueous zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitor for achieving ultrahigh-volumetric energy density

Zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitors are regarded as promising safe energy storage systems. However, the relatively low volumetric energy density has become the main bottlenecks in practical applications of portable electronic devices. In this work, the zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitor with high volumetric energy density and superb cycle stability had been constructed which employing the high-density three-dimensional graphene hydrogel as cathode and Zn foil used as anode in 1 mol/L ZnSO₄ electrolyte. Benefiting from the abundant ion transport paths and the abundant active sites for graphene hydrogel with high density and porous structure, the zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitor exhibited an extremely high volumetric energy density of 118.42 Wh/L and a superb power density of 24.00 kW/L, as well as an excellent long cycle life (80% retention after 30,000 cycles at 10 A/g), which was superior to the volumetric energy density of the reported zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitors. This device, based on the fast ion adsorption/desorption on the capacitor-type graphene cathode and reversible Zn²⁺ plating/stripping on the battery-type Zn anode, which will inspire the development of zinc-ion hybrid super-capacitor in miniaturized devices.     

Highly flexible pseudocapacitor based on freestanding heterogeneous MnO2/conductive polymer nanowire arrays

Flexible electronics such as wearable electronic clothing, paper-like electronic devices, and flexible biomedical diagnostic devices are expected to be commercialized in the near future. Flexible energy storage will be needed to power these devices. Supercapacitor devices based on freestanding nanowire arrays are promising high power sources for these flexible electronics. Electrodes for these supercapacitor devices consisting of heterogeneous coaxial nanowires of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-shell and MnO(2)-core materials have been shown in a half cell system to have improved capacitance and rate capabilities when compared to their pure nanomaterials; however, their performance in a full cell system has not been fully investigated. Herein, these coaxial nanowires are tested in both a symmetric and an asymmetric (utilizing a PEDOT nanowire anode) full cell configuration in the aspect of charge storage, charge rate, and flexibility without using any carbon additives and polymer binders. It is found that the asymmetric cell outperforms the symmetric cell in terms of energy density, rate capability, and cycle ability. The asymmetric device's electrode materials display an energy density of 9.8 Wh/kg even at a high power density of 850 W kg(-1). This device is highly flexible and shows fast charging and discharging while still maintaining 86% of its energy density even under a highly flexed state. The total device is shown to have a total capacitance of 0.26 F at a maximum voltage of 1.7 V, which is capable of providing enough energy to power small portable devices.     

Flexible asymmetric supercapacitor based on MnO2 honeycomb structure

By controlling the electroplating time of solution containing Mn(Ac)₂, the MnO₂ nanosheets were self-assembled to the honeycomb structure and showed an excellent electrochemical performance in 1 mol/L Na₂SO₄ electrolyte. Via pairing with activated carbon as negative electrode, the capacitor could deliver a maximum energy density of 43.84 Wh/kg and a maximum power density of 6.62 kW/kg.     

Enhanced Energy Density of Coaxial Fiber Asymmetric Supercapacitor Based on MoS2@Fe2O3/Carbon Nanotube Paper and Ni(OH)2@NiCo2O4/Carbon Nanotube Fiber Electrodes

Fiber supercapacitors are promising energy storage devices for potential application in wearable and miniaturized portable electronics, which currently suffer from difficulties in achieving high capacitance and energy density synchronously owing to the limited specific surface area of the electrode materials and material incompatibility between the two electrodes. Herein, a strategy is developed for the manufacture of coaxial asymmetric fiber supercapacitors by wrapping a core of PVA-KOH gel electrolyte-coated Ni(OH)₂@NiCo₂O₄/CNT fibers with MoS₂@Fe₂O₃/CNT paper. The as-prepared coaxial fiber asymmetric supercapacitors exhibit a specific capacitance of 373 mF cm⁻² (at a current density of 2 mA cm⁻²) and energy density of 0.13 mW h cm⁻² (at a power density of 3.2 mW cm⁻²), and also show good rate capability, long cycle life, and excellent flexibility. This work provides the possibility for the practical application of fiber supercapacitors in wearable and portable energy storage equipment.     

Preparation and performance analysis of PE-supported P(AN-co-MMA) gel polymer electrolyte for lithium ion battery application

Copolymer, poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacrylate) (P(AN-co-MMA)), was synthesized by solution polymerization with different mole ratios of monomers, acrylonitrile (AN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Polyethylene (PE) supported copolymer and gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) were prepared with this copolymer and their performances were characterized with FTIR, TGA, SEM, and electrochemical methods. It is found that the GPE using the PE-supported copolymer with AN to MMA = 4:1 (mole) exhibits an ionic conductivity of 2.06 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The copolymer is stable up to 270 °C. The PE-supported copolymer shows a cross-linked porous structure and has 150 wt% of electrolyte uptake. The GPE is compatible with anode and cathode of lithium ion battery at high voltage and its electrochemical window is 5.5 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). With the application of the PE-supported GPE in lithium ion battery, the battery shows its good rate and initial discharge capacity and cyclic stability.