image: Key Components and Design Strategies of Self-Healing Batteries. This schematic illustrates the fundamental components and strategies for developing self-healing batteries. The three main categories—self-healing electrodes, self-healing electrolytes, and self-healing substrates—are integrated with advanced material design, computational simulations, and scalable production techniques such as 3D printing and screen printing. Key materials include silicon anodes, liquid metals, polymers, hydrogels, and modified polymers, all contributing to enhanced battery durability, stability, and self-repair capabilities.
Credit: Energy Materials and Devices, Tsinghua University Press
With the rapid rise of portable electronics and wearable technology, the demand for high-performance, long-lasting batteries has never been greater. However, conventional batteries are highly susceptible to mechanical stress, leading to cracks, fractures, and performance degradation. In extreme cases, these failures can trigger safety hazards such as toxic leakage or short circuits. Furthermore, repeated charging and discharging cycles gradually weaken battery structures, limiting their operational lifespan. To overcome these limitations, scientists have turned to self-healing materials—an innovative approach that enables batteries to autonomously repair damage, ensuring long-term reliability and enhanced safety.
On March 3, 2025, researchers from Zhengzhou University published a comprehensive review (DOI: 10.26599/EMD.2025.9370058) in Energy Materials and Devices, detailing the latest advancements in self-healing battery technology. The study systematically explores the integration of self-healing materials into key battery components—including electrodes, electrolytes, and encapsulation layers—while unraveling the mechanisms behind their remarkable ability to recover from damage. The review also highlights strategies for optimizing performance and durability, laying the groundwork for future breakthroughs in next-generation energy storage systems.
The research showcases a series of pioneering developments in self-healing battery technology. For electrodes, scientists have engineered silicon anodes and liquid metals capable of autonomously repairing cracks caused by mechanical stress or volume expansion during charge cycles. This self-repair ability not only maintains electrochemical performance but also extends battery lifespan. For electrolytes, innovative self-healing materials—ranging from gel-based polymers to solid-state structures—have been developed to restore ionic conductivity and prevent short circuits. For instance, self-healing gel electrolytes rely on dynamic hydrogen bonds to reform their structure within minutes, while solid electrolytes utilize reversible covalent bonds to enhance mechanical strength and stability. Encapsulation materials, another critical component, have been designed to protect internal battery structures from environmental damage, further improving durability. One of the most significant advancements in this field is the use of dynamic covalent bonds, such as disulfide and boronate ester bonds, which allow materials to reform broken connections under mild conditions. Additionally, non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces, contribute to rapid self-repair. Particularly promising are liquid metal electrodes, which can heal almost instantaneously—making them ideal for flexible and wearable applications.
"Self-healing batteries represent a paradigm shift in energy storage technology," says Dr. Li Song, one of the lead researchers. "By incorporating materials that can autonomously repair damage, we are addressing some of the most critical challenges in battery durability and safety. This technology has the potential to revolutionize not only consumer electronics but also electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems."
The impact of self-healing batteries extends far beyond consumer electronics. In wearable devices, these batteries could self-repair minor damage from daily wear and tear, ensuring long-term functionality. In electric vehicles, they could enhance safety by preventing electrolyte leakage and short circuits, significantly reducing maintenance costs. As research continues, the integration of self-healing technology into mainstream battery systems could lead to a new era of more reliable, sustainable, and resilient energy storage.
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Journal
Energy Materials and Devices
Article Title
Recent progress and challenges of self-healing batteries
Article Publication Date
3-Mar-2025