Recent Advances and Prospects of Flexible Zinc Ion Batteries from Material Principles to Device Structure Designs

Abstract

There is an urgent need to develop advanced flexible energy storage devices to address the increasing societal demand for micro-electronic and flexible wearable devices. With their high theoretical capacity, safety, low cost and environmental friendliness, flexible zinc-ion batteries (FZIBs) have gained a lot of attention as an ideal energy storage solution for flexible electronics. Herein, the mechanisms of FZIBs components and the principles underlying device design have been explored, which offering guidance for innovative structural designs informed by mechanism analysis. First, we provide a comprehensive overview of the energy storage mechanisms in electrode materials and polymer electrolytes, and we offer strategies to address the current challenges in the development of FZIBs. Second, we emphasize the requirements for flexible component design, detailing the structural advantages, limitations, and application prospects of FZIBs across various configurations, including sandwich, planar, fiber, and other novel structures. The impact of these designs on the electrochemical performance and practical application potential of FZIBs is also examined. This review aims to propel the rational design and development of FZIBs, enabling them to realize their potential as flexible energy storage solutions fully.