Chitin Nanofibrils from Fungi for Hierarchical Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Transient Zinc-Ion Batteries with Stable Zn Electrodeposition

Rechargeable batteries play an integral role toward carbon neutrality. Environmentally sustainable batteries should consider the trade-offs between material renewability, processability, thermo-mechanical and electrochemical performance, as well as transiency. To address this dilemma, we follow circular economy principles to fabricate fungal chitin nanofibril (ChNF) gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) for zinc-ion batteries. These biocolloids are physically entangled into hierarchical hydrogels with specific surface areas of 49.5 m(2)& BULL;g(-1). Ionic conductivities of 54.1 mS & BULL;cm(-1) and a Zn2+ transference number of 0.468 are reached, outperforming conventional non-renewable/non-biodegradable glass microfibre separator-liquid electrolyte pairs. Enabled by its mechanically elastic properties and large water uptake, a stable Zn electrodeposition in symmetric Zn|Zn configuration with a lifespan above 600 h at 9.5 mA & BULL;cm(-2) is obtained. At 100 mA & BULL;g(-1), the discharge capacity of Zn/& alpha;-MnO2 full cells increases above 500 cycles when replacing glass microfiber separators with ChNF GPEs, while the rate performance remains comparable to glass microfiber separators. To make the battery completely transient, the metallic current collectors are replaced by biodegradable polyester/carbon black composites undergoing degradation in water at 70 & DEG;C. This work demonstrates the applicability of bio-based materials to fabricate green and electrochemically competitive batteries with potential applications in sustainable portable electronics, or biomedicine.

Automated summary

Rechargeable batteries that consider the trade-offs between material renewability, processability, thermo-mechanical and electrochemical performance, as well as transiency, can help achieve carbon neutrality. This study demonstrates the fabrication of environmentally sustainable zinc-ion batteries using fungal chitin nanofibril gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). These GPEs outperform conventional non-renewable/non-biodegradable glass microfibre separator-liquid electrolyte pairs with high ionic conductivities and a stable Zn electrodeposition. By replacing metallic current collectors with biodegradable materials, the batteries can become completely transient. This work showcases the potential applications of bio-based materials in the development of green and electrochemically competitive batteries for sustainable portable electronics or biomedicine.