Sign in Subscribe
Batteries

Breakthrough in Aqueous Zn||MnO Battery Technology

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the City University of Hong Kong have made significant advancements in the design of aqueous Zn||MnO batteries, addressing key limitations in their practical applications. The team developed mild amphiphilic hydrogel electrolytes (AHEs) that enhance the hydrogen bonding between hydrophilic groups and water molecules, resulting in a wide electrochemical stability window (ESW) and high ionic activity. The design enables the creation of high-voltage and flat-discharging batteries with improved performance and scalability.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers designed mild amphiphilic hydrogel electrolytes (AHEs) with a wide electrochemical stability window (ESW) of up to ~3.0 V.
  • The AHEs possess high ionic activity, allowing for improved performance in aqueous Zn||MnO batteries.
  • The assembled Zn||MnO pouch cells using the hydrogel electrolytes demonstrated a large areal capacity of ~5 mAh cm at 1 mA cm.
  • The researchers fabricated a pouch cell with an area of 40 cm, exhibiting a capacity of ~125 mAh at 2 mA cm.
  • Two pouch cells (25 cm) in series were used to drive a 3.7 V-powerable electric fan, showcasing the scalability and performance of the new battery design.
  • The design of AHEs is based on the mechanism of trace amounts of hydrophobic moieties enhancing hydrogen bonding between hydrophilic groups and water molecules.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and highlights the promising approach of rational design of wide-ESW AHEs for portable and scalable applications of aqueous high-voltage Zn||MnO batteries.
  • The team includes researchers Bochun Liang, Chuan Li, Ze Chen, Rong Zhang, Huilin Cui, Yanbo Wang, Qing Li, Chao Peng, Jun Fan, Zengxia Pei, and Chunyi Zhi from the City University of Hong Kong.

Statistics:

  • Areal capacity of ~5 mAh cm at 1 mA cm
  • High-voltage discharging plateau of ~1.9 V
  • Improved electrochemical stability window (ESW) of up to ~3.0 V
  • Scalability demonstrated through the fabrication of a pouch cell with an area of 40 cm, exhibiting a capacity of ~125 mAh at 2 mA cm
  • Two pouch cells (25 cm) in series driven a 3.7 V-powerable electric fan

Sources:

  • "Scalable high-voltage Zn||MnO2 batteries achieved by mild amphiphilic hydrogel electrolytes." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025;122(33).
  • Natl Acad Sciences, 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20418, USA.
  • Bochun Liang, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

Read more