Graphene Oxide Nanoribbon-Based Composite Gel Polymer Electrolytes: Enhancing Mechanical Strength and Ionic Conductivity for Long Cycling Lifetime of Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries

The gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) in flexible zinc-air batteries (ZABs) requires exceptional water retention, ion conductivity, and stretchability. However, some GPEs used in ZABs face issues, such as electrolyte evaporation and poor cycle life. Here, we develop a sodium polyacrylate-based GPE for rechargeable ZABs by incorporating graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF). This fosters hydrogen bonds that create ionic conductive channels, enhancing the ionic conductivity and ZAB performance. The GPE demonstrates excellent water retention, stretchability, and ion conductivity of 268.2 mS cm^-1. It stretches up to 20.4 times its length, making it a promising candidate for energy storage due to its adjustable shape, mechanical strength, and GONR flexibility. Rechargeable sandwich-type ZABs with this GPE exhibit over 323 h cycle life at 2 mA cm^-2 and a discharge power density of 90.7 mW cm^-2. Cable-type all-solid-state ZABs achieve an energy density of 87.8 mW cm^-2 with high flexibility, highlighting the potential for wearable energy applications.