An aqueous electrolyte with up to 2.9 V operating voltage

Abstract

Aqueous electrolytes are attractive as energy storage devices due to their high conductivity, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. However, their use is limited by the evolution potential of 1.23 V. A Tween 20-based sustainable microemulsion electrolyte has been proposed; the hydrophobic tail of the surfactant could array on the surface of a hydrophobic electrode, concentrating an oil layer to increase the operating potential, achieving 2.9 V operating voltage (same level as organic electrolyte), while persevering the odds of aqueous electrolytes.