From frigid polar nights to sweltering desert days, powering flexible electronics in extreme environments remains a daunting challenge. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have long been considered promising for safe, low-cost, and sustainable energy storage, yet they still struggle with zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, corrosion, and severe performance loss at low temperatures. Now, a research team led by scientists from the Harbin Institute of Technology, the University of Adelaide, and Jiangmen Laboratory of Carbon Science and Technology has unveiled a breakthrough: a high-environment-adaptable hydrogel electrolyte (HEA-3) that precisely regulates the coordination environment of water molecules. Published in Nano-Micro Letters , this work—led by Prof. Zhixin Tai and Prof. Yajie Liu—demonstrates a new pathway for creating flexible zinc-based devices that operate reliably from room temperature down to –70 °C.
Why HEA-3 Matters
Innovative Design and Mechanisms
Applications and Future Outlook
Looking ahead, the team envisions expanding this water coordination regulation strategy to other metal-ion systems, exploring new polymer frameworks and stimuli-responsive functionalities. This work marks a decisive step toward creating flexible, high-stability, all-weather energy storage devices ready to perform where conventional batteries cannot.
Stay tuned for further breakthroughs as the researchers continue to redefine the limits of aqueous zinc battery technology.
Nano-Micro Letters
Experimental study
Regulating the Coordination Environment of H2O in Hydrogel Electrolyte for a High-Environment-Adaptable and High-Stability Flexible Zn Devices
12-Jun-2025