Hanning Zhang

Extending the operational lifetime of flexible zinc‐air batteries (ZABs) has traditionally focused on improving electrolyte water retention, yet most systems still fail within ∼400 h, revealing that dehydration alone is not the fundamental limitation. Here, a bio‐inspired hydrogel electrolyte reconstructed from wood chips overcomes this bottleneck by separating cellulose and lignin: cellulose forms a hydrated network while the extracted lignin is re‐applied as an outer water‐retentive layer, mimicking the hierarchical fiber‐bark architecture of plants. Beyond hydration, the electrolyte implements triple Zn ²⁺ confinement through phosphate‐based chelators, dynamic Schiff‐base coordination, and polymeric domains, stabilizing Zn ²⁺ , suppressing ZnO accumulation, and maintaining interfacial reaction equilibrium at the zinc anode. Flexible ZABs incorporating this electrolyte deliver high power density (124.9 mW cm ⁻² ), robust mechanical adaptability, and extended cycling up to 600 h at 1 mA cm ⁻² , while remaining operational under low‐temperature and dry conditions. Fully biodegradable and derived from abundant biomass, this system demonstrates that durability arises from hierarchical ion regulation and reaction‐equilibrium control rather than water retention alone, providing mechanistic insight into flexible ZABs failure. This work establishes a framework in which biomass valorization and bio‐inspired hierarchical design enable durable, high‐performance, and environmentally sustainable flexible energy storage.

Owing to the considerable capacity, high safety, and abundant zinc resources, zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have been garnering much attention. Nonetheless, the unsatisfactory cyclic lifespan and poor reversibility originate from side reactions and dendrite obstacles to their practical applications. In addition to inhibiting the corrosion of aqueous electrolytes, regulating planar deposition is a key strategy to enhance their long‐term stability. Herein, an in situ conversion strategy is reported to construct a protective “dual‐layer” structure (VZSe/V@Zn) on zinc metal, consisting of the VSe ₂ ‐ZnSe outer layer with low lattice mismatch to Zn (002) plane, and corrosion‐resistant nanometallic V inner layer. Such design integrates superior interfacial ionic/electronic transfer, corrosion resistance, and unique planar deposition regulation capability. The as‐prepared VZSe/V@Zn demonstrates remarkable durability of 238 h at 50 mA cm ⁻² with a high depth of discharge (68.3% DOD) in the Zn||Zn symmetric cell. Even in the anode‐free system, the as‐prepared protective layer can extend the cycle life up to 2000 cycles, with an outstanding capacity retention of 93.1% and ultra‐high average coulombic efficiency of 99.998%. This work delineates an effective strategy for fabricating lattice‐matching protective layers, with profound implications for elucidating zinc deposition mechanisms and paving the way for the development of high‐performance zinc batteries.

Eutectic gallium–indium liquid metal (EGaIn‐LM), with a considerable capacity and unique self‐healing properties derived from its intrinsic liquid nature, gains tremendous attention for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) anode. However, the fluidity of the LM can trigger continuous consumption of the electrolyte, and its liquid–solid transition during the lithiation/de‐lithiation process may result in the rupture of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI). Herein, LM is employed as an initiator to in situ assemble the 3D hydrogel for dynamically encapsulating itself; the LM nanoparticles can be homogeneously confined within the hydrogel‐derived carbon framework (HDC) after calcination. Such design effectively alleviates the volume expansion of LM and facilitates electron transportation, resulting in a superior rate capability and long‐term cyclability. Further, the “dual‐layer” SEI structure and its key components, including the robust LiF outer layer and corrosion‐resistant and ionic conductive LiGaO_x inner layer are revealed, confirming the involvement of LM in the formation of SEI, as well as the important role of carbon framework in reducing interfacial side reactions and SEI decomposition. This work provides a distinct perspective for the formation, structural evolution, and composition of SEI at the liquid/solid interface, and demonstrates an effective strategy to construct a reliable matrix for stabilizing the SEI.

A facile “one-step” strategy was developed for in situ encapsulating liquid metal (LM) though 3D Ti ₃ C ₂ T _x –MXene skeleton. The “inside–outside” design endows the LM-MXene anode with enhanced lithium storage performance.