Non-Flammable Bioelectrolyte Gel for Stable Redox Supercapacitors

The patent converts the harmful flammability of conventional liquid electrolytes into a safe gel polymer electrolyte system. By incorporating gel-forming polymers (such as polyacrylonitrile, carboxymethyl cellulose, or chitosan) with liquid electrolyte components, the harmful liquid phase is transformed into a safe gel phase that maintains ionic conductivity while eliminating flammability risks. This directly addresses the safety concern by converting the harmful property into a beneficial safe-state material.

The patent employs composite gel polymer electrolytes combining multiple components: gel-forming polymers, liquid electrolyte salts (such as LiClO4, LiBF4, or LiPF6), and solvents (such as ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, or dimethyl sulfoxide). This composite structure integrates the advantages of solid polymers (safety, mechanical stability) with liquid electrolytes (high ionic conductivity), creating a material that simultaneously achieves safety and performance.

The patent optimizes parameters including polymer molecular weight, crosslinking density, electrolyte salt concentration, and solvent ratio to achieve the desired balance between safety and ionic conductivity. By carefully controlling these parameters, the gel electrolyte maintains high ion transport capability while preserving the safety advantages of the gel structure. For example, optimizing the ratio of cyclic carbonate to chain carbonate solvents enhances both conductivity and electrochemical stability.

The patent creates localized regions within the gel electrolyte that facilitate ion transport. The gel structure provides channels and pathways with appropriate local properties for ion conduction, while maintaining the overall gel matrix for safety. This local optimization of structure and composition ensures that ionic conductivity is not compromised by the gel formation.