A Flexible Rechargeable Zinc–Air Battery with Excellent Low-Temperature Adaptability

Abstract

Flexible zinc-air batteries (ZAB) are a promising battery candidate for emerging flexible electronic devices, but the catalysis-based working principle and unique semi-opened structure pose a severe challenge to their overall performance at cold temperature. Herein, we report the first flexible rechargeable ZAB with excellent low-temperature adaptability, based on the innovation of an efficient electrocatalyst to offset the electrochemical performance shrinkage caused by decreased temperature and a highly conductive hydrogel with a polarized terminal group to render the anti-freezing property. The fabricated ZABs show excellent electrochemical performances that outperform those of many aqueous ZABs at room temperature. They also deliver a high capacity of 691 mAh g−¹ and an energy density of 798 Wh kg-¹ at -20 °C (92.7 % and 87.2 % retention of the room temperature counterparts, respectively), together with excellent flexibility and reverting capability.