According to foreign media reports, recently, a research team led by Professor Hu Linhua of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences used urea as a zinc solubilizer and zinc acetate (Zn(Ac)₂) salt – an affordable and environmentally friendly material – Developed a hydrogel electrolyte with high mechanical durability for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIB). The relevant research results were published in the journal “Angewandte Chemie International Edition”.
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This newly designed hydrogel withstands 557% tensile elongation and 3.7 MPa compressive strength. The polyurea solid electrolyte interface phase (SEI) formed in situ during AZIB operation enables stable zinc ion stripping/deposition without dendrite and passivation.
“This approach overcomes the common limitations of low-cost zinc acetate, making it more resistant to wear and tear,” said team member Li Zhaoqian. “It allows the material to withstand repeated galvanizing and dezincization processes and other physical stresses, increasing its overall durability.”
