A Natural Solvent-Based Gel Electrolyte for Stable and Sustainable Zinc-Ion Batteries


Komurcuoglu G., Adhami S., Yaman Uzunoglu G., YÜKSEL R.

Advanced Sustainable Systems, cilt.10, sa.5, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 5
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/adsu.70510
  • Dergi Adı: Advanced Sustainable Systems
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, Environment Index, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: chia seeds, dendrite suppression, hydrogel electrolyte, natural solvent, Zn-ion batteries
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Natural solvent-based electrolytes are increasingly sought for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) as they provide a sustainable and cost-effective means to regulate water activity and electrode–electrolyte interfacial chemistry while retaining the intrinsic safety of aqueous systems. Herein, a sustainable electrolyte formulation utilizing a chia seed (CS)-based hydrogel is reported as an effective approach to improve the electrochemical stability of ZIBs. Owing to its high content of hydroxyl-rich polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, the chia seed-derived gel electrolyte (CSGE) tailors the Zn2+ solvation environment, decreases free-water activity, and restrains parasitic hydrogen evolution as well as dendritic zinc growth. Benefiting from this regulated solvation environment, the CSGE achieved a remarkably high Zn2+ transference number of 0.84. Consequently, Zn//Zn symmetric cells demonstrated outstanding electrochemical stability exceeding 4000 h at 1.0 mA cm−2 and 1.0 mAh cm−2. Moreover, Zn//V2O5 cells achieved a high discharge capacity of 337.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and maintained reliable rate performance between 0.2 and 10 A g−1. In addition, ex situ SEM and XRD analyses revealed homogeneous deposition of Zn with a preferred (002) orientation. These findings demonstrate that electrolytes derived from renewable resources provide a cost-effective route for stable and sustainable ZIBs.