Hierarchically Nanostructured Solid-State Electrolyte for Flexible Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

The construction of safe and environmentally-benign solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with intrinsic hydroxide ion-conduction for flexible zinc–air batteries is highly desirable yet extremely challenging. Herein, hierarchically nanostructured CCNF-PDIL SSEs with reinforced concrete architecture are constructed by nanoconfined polymerization of dual-cation ionic liquid (PDIL, concrete) within a robust three-dimensional porous cationic cellulose nanofiber matrix (CCNF, reinforcing steel), where plenty of penetrating ion-conductive channels are formed and undergo dynamic self-rearrangement under different hydrated levels. The CCNF-PDIL SSEs synchronously exhibit good flexibility, mechanical robustness, superhigh ion conductivity of 286.5 mS cm⁻¹, and decent water uptake. The resultant flexible solid-state zinc–air batteries deliver a high-power density of 135 mW cm⁻², a specific capacity of 775 mAh g⁻¹ and an ultralong cycling stability with continuous operation of 240 hours for 720 cycles, far outperforming those of the state-of-the-art solid-state batteries. The marriage of biomaterials with the diversity of ionic liquids creates enormous opportunities to construct advanced SSEs for solid-state batteries.