Cerebral Cortex Inspired Bio‐Interface Engineering: Fast Zn Ions Reaction Kinetics for Low‐Temperature Energy Storage

View at publisher
Authors: Xiankai Fan, Cuiqin Chao, Luxiao Zhang, Hao Li, Y ZHAO, Yan Ding, Fanxing Bu, W Y Zhou, Danli Liang, Yuan Chen, Jun Li, S Y Li
+4 more Miao Zhou, Dongliang Chao, Dongyuan Zhao, Zaiwang Zhao
Cited by: 1
References: 42

Abstract

ABSTRACT Carbon‐based aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (CAZBs) require stable operation under extremely low temperatures for practical applications, but they are hindered by sluggish Zn 2 + transport within the diffusion layer and desolvation barriers in the Helmholtz layer. Here, a bio‐inspired interface engineering strategy—derived from the high‐volume, high‐speed, and high‐efficiency signal processing capability of the cerebral cortex—is employed to construct hierarchical carbon spheres with sulcus–gyrus architectures (HCSs‐sg). Such HCSs‐sg can effectively imitate the dense neuron distribution in the cerebral cortex and lead to a sharp increase in pseudocapacitive active sites. This biomimetic configuration generates directional micro‐electric fields and ionic concentration gradients, which synergistically accelerate Zn 2 + transport through diffusion‐driven migration and coulombic forces. Simultaneously, the high‐curvature sulcus–gyrus exhibits enhanced Zn 2 + adsorption energy and reduced desolvation barriers, thereby facilitating efficient desolvation and rapid charge transfer at subzero temperatures. As a result, the optimized product delivers a specific capacity of 70 mAh g − 1 at 0.1 A g − 1 under −25°C and maintains a stable coulombic efficiency of nearly 100% over 10 000 cycles at 1 A g − 1 . This biomimetic interface engineering approach can provide a potential design route for aqueous battery applications under extreme‐temperature conditions.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Advanced battery technologies research Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Publication details

Journal / source
Advanced Materials
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
38
Issue
37
Pages
e73590–e73590
Publication date
30 May 2026
Language
EN