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Batteries

Breakthrough in Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries Enhances Wearable Electronics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Zhejiang Normal University have made significant advancements in the development of flexible zinc-air batteries, which have the potential to revolutionize wearable electronics. According to a new report, the team has successfully synthesized a highly conductive solid-state electrolyte membrane using a rapid-polymerization strategy, enabling flexible zinc-air batteries to achieve high voltage and long cyclability. This breakthrough has significant implications for the widespread adoption of wearable electronics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed a rapid-polymerization strategy to synthesize a highly conductive solid-state electrolyte membrane, achieving full polymerization in just 3 minutes.
  • The membrane exhibits an ultrahigh ionic conductivity of 0.75 S cm^(-1) and enables flexible zinc-air batteries to operate at a discharge plateau of 1.2 V at 10 mA cm^(-2) and 4200 minutes of cyclability at 1 mA cm^(-2).
  • The resultant flexible zinc-air batteries demonstrated a breakthrough open-circuit voltage of 2.16 V, representing the highest recorded value among reported flexible zinc-air battery systems.
  • The research resolves the challenges of interface separation and low-voltage limitations in zinc-air batteries.
  • The team's innovative membrane design enables spatially decoupled acid-alkaline integration within a single matrix.
  • The flexible zinc-air batteries developed in this study have the potential to enhance the development of wearable electronics.

Statistics:

  • 3 minutes: the time it takes for the rapid-polymerization strategy to achieve full polymerization of the solid-state electrolyte membrane.
  • 0.75 S cm^(-1): the ultrahigh ionic conductivity of the membrane.
  • 1.2 V: the discharge plateau achieved by the flexible zinc-air batteries.
  • 4200 minutes: the cyclability of the flexible zinc-air batteries at 1 mA cm^(-2).
  • 2.16 V: the breakthrough open-circuit voltage achieved by the flexible zinc-air batteries.
  • 10 mA cm^(-2): the current density at which the flexible zinc-air batteries operate.
  • 1 mA cm^(-2): the current density at which the flexible zinc-air batteries achieve 4200 minutes of cyclability.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Studies from Zhejiang Normal University Add New Findings in the Area of Electronics (Rapid-polymerization Electrolyte Architecture Enabling High-voltage Operation In Flexible Zinc-air Batteries). Electronics Newsweekly. October 21, 2025; p 4969.
  • Rapid-polymerization Electrolyte Architecture Enabling High-voltage Operation In Flexible Zinc-air Batteries. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2025;522.
  • Elsevier Science Sa, PO Box 564, 1001 Lausanne, Switzerland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Chemical Engineering Journal - www.journals.elsevier.com/chemical-engineering-journal/)

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