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A Shape‐Variable, Low‐Temperature Liquid Metal–Conductive Polymer Aqueous Secondary Battery
Author(s) -
Fu Hao,
Liu Guicheng,
Xiong Lingyun,
Wang Manxiang,
Lee Jeongwoo,
Ren Ren,
Yang Woochul,
Lee Joong Kee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202107062
Subject(s) - materials science , anode , cathode , polyaniline , battery (electricity) , eutectic system , electrochemistry , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , polymer , composite material , electrical conductor , electrolyte , alloy , electrode , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , chemistry , power (physics) , physics , polymerization , engineering
A shape‐variable aqueous secondary battery operating at low temperature is developed using Ga 68 In 22 Sn 10 (wt%) as a liquid metal anode and a conductive polymer (polyaniline (PANI)) cathode. In the GaInSn alloy anode, Ga is the active component, while Sn and In increase the acid resistance and decrease the eutectic point to ‐19 °C. This enables the use of strongly acidic aqueous electrolytes (here, pH 0.9), thereby improving the activity and stability of the PANI cathode. Consequently, the battery exhibits excellent electrochemical performance and mechanical stability. The GaInSn–PANI battery operates via a hybrid mechanism of Ga 3+ stripping/plating and Cl − insertion/extraction and delivers a high reversible capacity of over 223.9 mAh g −1 and an 80.3% retention rate at 0.2 A g −1 after 500 cycles, as well as outstanding power and energy densities of 4300 mW g −1 and 98.7 mWh g −1 , respectively. Because of the liquid anode, the battery without packaging can be deformed with a small force of several millinewtons without any capacity loss. Moreover, at approximately ‐5 °C, the battery delivers a capacity of 67.8 mAh g −1 at 0.2 A g −1 with 100% elasticity. Thus, the battery is promising as a deformable energy device at low temperatures and in demanding environments.