A self-healing nanocomposite hydrogel electrolyte for rechargeable aqueous Zn-MnO2 battery

Hydrogel electrolytes are an attractive class of conductive materials for flexible energy storage devices given their reassuring flexibility and stable electrochemical performance. However, it still remains a challenge to assemble the smart battery with mechanical stability and self-healing property when suffering from inevitable physical damages. Here, a novel Zn2+-based polyacrylamide/halloysite nanotubes (PAAm/HNTs) nanocomposite hydrogel electrolyte is designed and prepared through rigid HNTs doped into the chemical cross-linked PAAm network. The PAAm/HNTs hydrogel with tensile performance, self-healing property and extended Zn2+ transport channels was used as hydrogel electrolyte in Zn/MnO2 batteries which possess an initial capacity of 347 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 0.2 A g(-1) with good cycle stability. This work offers an effective design method to improve strength, self-healing and fatigue resistance of nanocomposite hydrogel electrolytes which would provide alterative view for the construct of hydrogel electrolytes with desirable properties.