Biomimetic Solid-State Zn Electrolyte for Corrugated Structural Batteries.

Batteries based on divalent metals, such as the Zn/Zn pair, represent attractive alternatives to lithium-ion chemistry due to their high safety, reliability, earth-abundance, and energy density. However, archetypal Zn batteries are bulky, inflexible, non-rechargeable, and contain a corrosive electrolyte. Suppression of the anodic growth of Zn dendrites is essential for resolution of these problems and requires materials with nanoscale mechanics sufficient to withstand mechanical deformation from stiff Zn dendrites.