@article{Zheng2026, 
author = {Yuanjie Zheng and Kai Du and Zhao Yue and Xinqi Huang and Chunyang Xu and Liu Wang and Xinwei Cui},
title = {Initiator quenching induced spatial regulation of in-situ gelation enables gradient gel-liquid electrolyte for durable Zn-metal batteries},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {6},
pages = {94908516},
keywords = {in-situ gelation, gradient gel-liquid electrolytes, Zn-metal batteries, interfacial stability, reaction kinetics},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94908516},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94908516},
abstract = {Gel electrolytes represent a promising alternative to liquid counterparts for mitigating free water-induced parasitic reactions at Zn metal anodes. However, the intrinsically sluggish ion transport within homogeneous gel networks severely impedes electrochemical kinetics. Herein, a novel gradient gel-liquid electrolyte (G-PAM) is proposed to reconcile interfacial stability with rapid ion transport. By introducing a Mn2+-rich coating on the cathode-facing side of the separator to locally quench persulfate initiators and inhibit polymerization, precise spatial control over the in-situ gelation of acrylamide monomers is realized, enabling selective gel formation at the anode side while preserving a liquid phase near the cathode. This functional graded electrolyte exhibits high ionic conductivity (2.52 × 10−2 S·cm−1) comparable to liquid electrolyte, ensuring fast charge transfer kinetics. Moreover, the amide-induced solvation restructuring favors the formation of a thin, stable N-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which enhances anodic interfacial stability and facilitates uniform Zn deposition. Consequently, ultra-stable Zn plating/stripping over 11,000 h is achieved. Zn||MnO2 full cells exhibit excellent rate performance and long-term cycling stability with minimal capacity decay of only 0.011% per cycle. This in-situ spatial regulation strategy establishes a new paradigm for designing functionally graded electrolytes, paving the way toward practical, high-performance Zn-based batteries.}
}