A High‐Safety Solid‐State Thermally Responsive Separator‐Electrolyte Structure for Flexible Energy Storage Devices

S Shuo Zhuo (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) H Hongbo Liang (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) M Mengfan Pei (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) W Wenkai Song H Hui Lin D Dongming Liu (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) W Wanyuan Jiang (State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) X Xusheng Zhang Y Yunpeng Qu (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) X Xin Jin B Borui Li (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) C Chang Su (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) C Changxing Han (School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals. Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province) Dalian University of Technology Dalian China) X Xigao Jian (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)) F Fangyuan Hu (School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province))

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the era of energy development, electrochemical energy storage devices are widely used for their high‐power density and long cycle life. However, rapid ion transport can cause excessive heat, accelerating degradation and raising safety risks. To address this, a high strength integrated smart separator‐electrolyte structure based on poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) is developed. The assembled supercapacitor achieves 81% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles at 1 A g −1 . By incorporation of hydrophilic (N‐vinylpyrrolidone) NVP monomer and high concentration salts, the hydrogen bonding network is precisely regulated, giving the structure exceptional mechanical robustness and anti‐freezing performance, enabling stable operation under deformation and extreme conditions. Leveraging the reversible phase transition of PNIPAAm, the electrolyte dynamically closes ion channels upon heating and reopens them upon cooling, achieving automatic shutdown and self‐recovery of device operation. Above 60°C, the electrolyte rapidly suppresses ionic transport (100% capacity loss), with full function recovery after cooling. In addition, the color change of the exclamation mark pattern on the outer packaging allows for quick and accurate identification of the overheating status. The synergistic integration of thermal responsiveness and visual alerting ensures ultra‐safe operation and provides a promising strategy for enhancing the operational safety of next‐generation flexible energy storage devices.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 14
Published March 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

S

Shuo Zhuo

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

H

Hongbo Liang

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

M

Mengfan Pei

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

W

Wenkai Song

H

Hui Lin

D

Dongming Liu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

W

Wanyuan Jiang

State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

X

Xusheng Zhang

Y

Yunpeng Qu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

X

Xin Jin

B

Borui Li

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

C

Chang Su

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

C

Changxing Han

School of Materials Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals. Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province) Dalian University of Technology Dalian China

X

Xigao Jian

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)

F

Fangyuan Hu

School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, Technology Innovation Center of High Performance Resin Materials (Liaoning Province)