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Vol. 17 (2025)

Robust and High-Wettability Cellulose Separators with Molecule-Reassembled Nano-Cracked Structures for High-Performance Supercapacitors

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01650-2
Xiaoyu Wang
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Wenqiu Zheng
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Hui Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Junying Li
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Sheng Chen
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China
Feng Xu
State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Lignocellulosic Chemistry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author: Feng Xu

xfx315@bjfu.edu.cn

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 17 (2025), Article Number: 153

Abstract

Separators in supercapacitors (SCs) frequently suffer from high resistance and the risk of short circuits due to inadequate electrolyte wettability, depressed mechanical properties, and insufficient thermal stability. Here, we develop a high-performance regenerated cellulose separator with nano-cracked structures for SCs via a binary solvent of superbase-derived ionic liquid and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The unique nano-cracks with an average width of 7.45 nm arise from the acceleration of cellulose molecular reassembly by DMSO-regulated hydrogen bonding, which endows the separator with high porosity (70.2%) and excellent electrolyte retention (329%). The outstanding thermal stability (273 °C) and mechanical strength (70 MPa) enable the separator to maintain its structural integrity under high temperatures and external forces. With these benefits, the SC utilizing the cellulose separator enables a high specific capacitance of 93.6 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 and a remarkable capacitance retention of 99.5% after 10,000 cycles compared with the commercial NKK-MPF30AC and NKK-TF4030. The robust and high-wettability cellulose separator holds promise as a superior alternative to commercial separators for advanced SCs with enhanced performance and improved safety.


Highlights:
1 A robust and high-wettability cellulose separator with unique nano-cracked structures is constructed through hydrogen bond-driven reassembly of cellulose molecules using a green binary solvent.
2 The nano-cracked structures endow the separator with high porosity (70.2%) and excellent electrolyte retention (329%).
3 The supercapacitors with nano-cracked separators exhibit high specific capacitance (93.6 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1) and a long cycling life (99.5% retention after 10,000 cycles).

Keywords

Superbase-derived ionic liquids Molecular reassembly Nano-structure Cellulose separators Supercapacitor
Wang, Xiaoyu, Wenqiu Zheng, Hui Zhao, Junying Li, Sheng Chen, and Feng Xu. 2025. “Robust and High-Wettability Cellulose Separators With Molecule-Reassembled Nano-Cracked Structures for High-Performance Supercapacitors”. Nano-Micro Letters 17 (February):153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-01650-2.
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