Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Gel electrolytes have emerged as the preferred electrolyte materials for quasi-solid Zn-air batteries, attributed to the high ionic conductivity and excellent mechanical flexibility. Nevertheless, the practical implementation faces multiple degradation challenges, including water loss, CO 2 erosion, mechanical damage, thermal effect, and contact failure, which severely constrain cyclic lifetime and environmental adaptability. This review systematically examines the degradation mechanisms of gel electrolytes and the corresponding mitigation strategies, covering recent progress in water retention enhancement, anti-CO 2 poisoning design, mechanical reinforcement, wide-temperature adaptability improvement, and Zn dendrite suppression. Current evidence indicates that single modification approaches are often insufficient to simultaneously enhance multiple performance. Future endeavors should therefore prioritize the design of gel electrolytes through multi-mechanism synergistic integration. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of structural evolution and failure behavior of gels under extreme conditions, combined with advanced characterization techniques, can guide the rational design and structural engineering of high-performance gel electrolytes, offering promise for advancing quasi-solid Zn-air batteries toward practical application.
Source: Frontiers in Chemistry
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G7357892867
OpenAlex ID: W7223308089