Biopolymer Derived Gel Polymer Electrolytes: Current Status and Future Perspectives.

Abstract

The growing shift towards renewable energy and the expansion of portable electronics have intensified the demand for safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly energy storage technologies. The urgent need for safe, high-performance, and environmentally sustainable energy storage systems has driven significant interest in gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs), particularly derived from natural biopolymers. Biopolymer-based GPEs (BGPEs) offer a promising alternative to synthetic counterparts, due to biodegradability, low toxicity, and rich functionality. Presents the recent advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of BGPEs in electrochemical devices. The synthesis methodologies including physical blending, chemical crosslinking, UV-curing, electrospinning, and in situ polymerization are evaluated for their effects on ionic conductivity, mechanical integrity, and thermal stability. Emphasis is placed on the ion transport mechanisms, highlighting the roles of functional groups, polymer crystallinity, and structural morphology in optimizing performance. Additionally, challenges such as moisture sensitivity, limited electrochemical windows, and mechanical fragility which impacts device performance are discussed alongside potential mitigation strategies. BGPEs are poised to play a transformative development in next-generation energy storage. Conclude with future directions in materials design, scalable processing, and multifunctional device integration to accelerate the commercialization of bio-based electrolytes.