Designing carboxymethyl cellulose based hydrogel electrolyte membranes enhanced by inorganic nanoparticle toward stable zinc anode

Aqueous zinc metal batteries have garnered substantial attention ascribing to affordability, intrinsic safety, and environmental benignity. Nevertheless, zinc metal batteries yet are challenged with potential service life issues resulted from dendrites and side reaction. In this paper, a strategy of nanoparticles doped hydrogel is proposed for constructing carboxymethyl cellulose/graphite oxide hybrid hydrogel electrolyte membranes with exceptional ionic conductivity, anti-swelling property, and simultaneously addressing the dendrites and parasitic reaction. The pivotal functions of the carboxymethyl cellulose/graphite oxide hydrogel electrolyte in mitigating hydrogen evolution and fostering accelerated Zn deposition have been elucidated based on principles of thermodynamic and reaction kinetic. The carboxymethyl cellulose/graphite oxide hydrogel electrolyte endows exceptional cycling longevity (800 h at 1 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2) for Zn||Zn battery, as well as high Coulombic efficiency for Zn||Cu battery (averagely 99.14% within 439 cycles at 1 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2). The assembled Zn||NH4V4O10 battery delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 328.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. Moreover, the device of Zn||NH4V4O10 pouch battery remains operational under severe conditions like bending and cutting. This work provides valuable reference in developing inorganic nanoparticle hybrid hydrogel electrolyte for realizing high-performance zinc metal batteries.