It remains important to maximize energy density of wearable batteries. In addition, such batteries should be compliant, safe, and environmentally sustainable. Intrinsically safe zinc–manganese dioxide (Zn/MnO₂) batteries are great candidates for powering wearables. However, achieving flexibility of these systems is hindered by the absence of a binder that ensures mechanical integrity of the MnO₂ electrode composite. Herein, a unique approach to fabricate a mechanically robust MnO₂ electrode is presented. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyacrylic acid (PAA) gel cross‐linked in situ via thermal treatment is used as a binder for the electrode. Furthermore, energy density and rate capability of the printed battery electrodes are improved by replacing graphite with single‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The batteries retain 93% capacity when the discharge rate is increased from C/10 to C/3, as well as 97% of their capacity after being flexed. In contrast, batteries based on conventional composition retain 60% and 23% of the capacity, respectively. Finally, the battery with the modified electrode has high areal energy density of 4.8 mWh cm⁻² and volumetric energy density of 320 mWh cm⁻³.

中文翻译：

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高分子水凝胶原位聚合制备柔性氧化锌锰电池用电极复合材料

最大化可穿戴电池的能量密度仍然很重要。此外，此类电池应合规，安全且在环境方面可持续。本质安全的二氧化锰锌（Zn / MnO ₂）电池是为可穿戴设备供电的理想选择。然而，由于缺少确保MnO ₂电极复合材料的机械完整性的粘合剂，阻碍了这些系统的灵活性。在这里，一种独特的方法来制造机械坚固的MnO ₂电极。通过热处理原位交联的聚乙烯醇（PVA）/聚丙烯酸（PAA）凝胶用作电极的粘合剂。此外，通过用单壁碳纳米管（CNT）代替石墨，可改善印刷电池电极的能量密度和倍率能力。当放电率从C / 10增加到C / 3时，电池保留93％的容量，而弯曲后则保持97％的容量。相反，基于常规组成的电池分别保留了60％和23％的容量。最后，具有修饰电极的电池具有4.8mWh cm ^-2的高面能量密度和320mWh cm ^-3的体积能密度。