Synthesis and Characterization of Metal and Natural Fibers Based Bendable Electrodes for Zinc Ion Battery Applications

Abstract

This study aims to address the inherent limitations of conventional zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) through the development of flexible and mechanically robust zinc-derived composite electrodes suitable for affordable, eco-friendly, and high-performance energy storage systems. Owing to their low cost, high safety, non-flammable aqueous electrolytes, environmental benignity, and high theoretical capacity, zinc-ion batteries have emerged as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for next-generation energy storage applications. Despite these advantages, the intrinsic brittleness and limited mechanical flexibility of zinc-based electrodes restrict their practical implementation in flexible, lightweight, and wearable devices. To overcome this challenge, current research efforts are directed toward reinforcing active materials with natural fibers(NF)/lignocelluloses (LC) to construct composite electrode architectures. This strategy preserves the favorable electrochemical characteristics of zinc while simultaneously imparting mechanical flexibility, structural integrity, and deformation tolerance. In this work, NF-reinforced composite electrodes with different doping were synthesized and optimized using co-precipitation process. The resulting NF-reinforced composite electrodes exhibited significantly improved mechanical robustness without sacrificing electrochemical performance, thereby advancing their suitability for flexible and wearable zinc-ion battery applications. Beyond demonstrating the feasibility of NF-integrated flexible ZIBs, this study also examines the effect of different doping on the structural and electrochemical properties offering a sustainable and scalable pathway for enhanced next- generation electrode manufacturing.