Zinc-Ion Microbatteries with High Operando Dynamic Stretchability Designed to Operate in Extreme Environments

Se Hun Lee, Jeonguk Hwang, Chiho Song, Changyong Park, Hyung-Seok Kim, and Heejoon Ahn
Advanced Functional Materials, 2310571(2023)
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202310571

Abstract

Highly stretchable and cycle-stable (high operando dynamic stretchable) zinc-ion microbatteries that are nonharmful, environmentally friendly, and low cost are developed herein for the first time. Stretchable zinc-ion microbatteries (SZIMBs) are fabricated by simultaneously incorporating the facile synthesis of conducting polymer-intercalated vanadium oxide nanofibers as flexible and elastic cathode materials; the construction, design, and assembly of wavy-type microdevices; and pre-zincation techniques that break stereotypes. The poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-intercalated zinc vanadium oxide nanofiber zinc-ion microbatteries (E-ZVONF-SZIMBs) manufactured by combining these strategies exhibit a maximum specific capacity of 0.16 mAh cm−2, high energy density of 0.112 mWh cm−2, and high power density of 3.5 mW cm−2 and maintain 83.7% of the initial specific capacity after 500 cycles. The E-ZVONF-SZIMBs maintain 78.9% of their initial specific capacity even after 7000 mechanical stretching/bending tests, exhibiting excellent operando dynamic stretchability. The stretchable zinc-ion microbatteries show practical feasibility by maintaining 80% and 90% of the capacity at −20 and 60°C under 200% strain, respectively. These remarkable achievements in the field of stretchable zinc-ion microbatteries are expected to have significant implications for the development of future device platforms.