FAMU-FSU Researchers Develop Non-Flammable Zinc-Ion Battery Surviving 900+ Cycles

Researchers at Florida A&M / Florida State University's College of Engineering published findings on a hydrogel-based zinc-ion battery designed for grid-scale and residential storage. The cell uses manganese dioxide (MnO₂) grown in-situ directly on a poly(vinyl alcohol)/aramid nanofiber composite electrolyte — eliminating the need for dry-room manufacturing conditions that drive up cost and complexity in lithium-ion production. The battery sustained more than 900 rapid charge-discharge cycles in testing and is non-flammable, as the aqueous hydrogel electrolyte cannot combust. The fully water-based manufacturing process is compatible with standard industrial production lines, which the team argues could enable cost-effective deployment in residential backup power and community-scale storage — applications where fire safety is paramount and energy density requirements are more flexible than in automotive use. The zinc-ion chemistry avoids lithium, cobalt, and nickel, relying on Earth-abundant zinc and manganese.