Scalable Assembly of Flexible Ultrathin All-in-One Zinc-Ion Batteries with Highly Stretchable, Editable, and Customizable Functions

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are considered to be a promising candidate for flexible energy storage devices due to their high safety and low cost. However, the scalable assembly of flexible ZIBs is still a challenge. Here, a scalable assembly strategy is developed to fabricate flexible ZIBs with an ultrathin all-in-one structure by combining blade coating with a rolling assembly process. Such a unique all-in-one integrated structure can effectively avoid the relative displacement or detachment between neighboring components to ensure continuous and effective ion- and/or loading-transfer capacity under external deformation, resulting in excellent structural and electrochemical stability. Furthermore, the ultrathin all-in-one ZIBs can be tailored and edited controllably into desired shapes and structures, further extending their editable, stretchable, and shape-customized functions. In addition, the ultrathin all-in-one ZIBs display the ability to integrate with perovskite solar cells to achieve an energy harvesting and storage integrated system. These enlighten a broad area of flexible ZIBs to be compatible with highly flexible and wearable electronics. The scaling-up assembly strategy provides a route to design other ultrathin all-in-one energy storage devices with stretchable, editable, and customizable behaviors.

Automated summary

A scalable assembly strategy has been developed to create flexible ZIBs with an ultrathin all-in-one structure, which effectively prevents detachment between components and ensures continuous transfer capacity under external deformation. These batteries can be tailored into desired shapes and integrated with other devices, showcasing potential for a wide range of applications.