Geopolymer-based electrolytes derived from industrial solid waste for structural energy storage

Industrial solid wastes, such as fly ash and slag, are generated at an enormous scale but remain insufficiently valorized. This work develops a geopolymer-polyacrylamide (Geo-PAAm) structural electrolyte from these wastes through a viscoelastic-controlled pore-engineering strategy. The resulting electrolyte contains interconnected hierarchical micropores and macropores that improve pore connectivity and provide efficient Zn 2+ transport pathways. As a result, Geo-PAAm delivers high ionic conductivity, stable Zn plating/stripping, and long-cycle performance in zinc-ion full cells. More importantly, its high compressive strength enables brick batteries that continue operating under severe mechanical and thermal abuse, including puncture, burning, and vehicular compression. This study demonstrates a route to convert low-value industrial waste into load-bearing energy-storage materials, offering a scalable platform for sustainable, energy-storage-integrated buildings.