Optimizing mechanical properties and ionic conductivity of hybrid hydrogel electrolytes for flexible zinc-ion batteries
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Wearable electronics require energy storage systems that combine mechanical flexibility, safety, and electrochemical performance, making aqueous zinc-ion batteries using hydrogel polymer electrolytes (HPEs) a promising approach. However, achieving hydrogels with both high mechanical toughness and ionic conductivity remains a major challenge. Herein, a zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methylacrylate)-tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PSBMA-EG) hydrogel was combined with a silica network to form an organic/inorganic hybrid electrolyte. The results demonstrated the successful synthesis and cross-linking of the organic and inorganic networks using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) as a coupling agent. The acrylate-to-silica ratio (Ac:Si), as the composition-dependency, was varied to investigate its effect on the morphology, swelling behaviour, and glass transition temperature of the obtained hydrogels. Typically, increasing the Ac:Si ratio resulted in more homogeneous and porous structures with higher water uptake. The mechanical and electrochemical properties were evaluated using uniaxial compression and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The HPE with the optimized combination of properties was obtained at an Ac:Si ratio of 2:1, exhibiting a toughness of 152.41 ± 30.12 kJ m –3 and an ionic conductivity of 118.01 ± 28.04 mS cm –1 .
Source: ChemRxiv
Institution: Aalborg University
Language: English
Topic: Aqueous and Flow Batteries
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Aalborg Universitet, Novo Nordisk
OpenAlex ID: W7214595296