New research
published in ACS Energy Letters reports on the successful chemical recycling of
compact zinc-ion supercapacitors used for lightweight energy storage. The
researchers were able to quickly disassemble the supercapacitor into reusable
components. The devices were used to power a glider's propeller, and after
disassembly, parts were reused in two new ones that performed as well as the
original device. The device “used zinc ions in a water-based, nonflammable
electrolyte, dissolvable adhesives and reusable electrically conductive
materials.”
The energy storage device may
be applicable to lightweight energy storage uses such as in phones, smart
watches, and some drones. Its recyclability means it will produce less e-waste.
Tech Xplore reports:
"We built on our lab's prior work, combining
high-energy alternative zinc-ion chemistry and structural supercapacitors to
make a recyclable version that enables second-life cells and outperforms prior
state-of-the-art devices," says Koripally, the lead author of the study.
“For the supercapacitor, the researchers created a zinc
metal–copper foil anode and an activated-carbon-fiber cathode. In between, they
placed a solid electrolyte made from a porous resin coated onto a plastic film
and soaked in a zinc(II) chloride salt solution. The resin formed strong bonds
when heated but broke apart in a slightly acidic liquid. Finally, they fused
the layers together with heat, forming a thin device with a 2-volt potential.”
“From initial fabrication through two rounds of
recycling, the carbon fibers successfully completed more than 172,000
charge-discharge cycles and maintained similar electrical performance
throughout their lifetime.”
“These findings demonstrate a promising approach for
lightweight energy storage that minimizes electronic waste, the team says.”
It is mainly the carbon-fiber
cathode that is recycled. The disassembly reaction in the weak acid takes place
at room temperature.
References:
An
energy storage device designed to be recycled. Science X staff. Tech Xplore. August
12, 2026. An energy storage device designed to
be recycled
Recyclable
Zinc Ion Structural Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer. Nandu Koripally;
Lulu Yao; Robert Chambers; Shengqiang Cai; Tse Nga Ng. ACS Energy Lett. (2026),
August 11, 2026. Recyclable Zinc Ion Structural
Supercapacitor Enabled by Porous Vitrimer | ACS Energy Letters | ACS
Publications
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