Minshen Zhu

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Micro-Origami Meets Advanced Materials: Pushing Energy Storage Boundary below 1 mm2

Abstract:

The rapid miniaturization of electronics demands equally compact and efficient energy sources capable of powering autonomous sensors, microrobots, and soft microsystems. Achieving high-energy storage at sub-millimeter scales, however, remains challenging due to materials and architectural limits. Zinc-based systems offer unique advantages—air stability, intrinsic safety, and compatibility with semiconductor processes—but conventional planar designs constrain their energy density.

We introduce a micro-origami strategy that folds 2D films into 3D Swiss-roll architectures, reducing the footprint below 1 mm² and aiming to achieve areal capacities above 1 mAh cm^-2. The key enabler is the incorporation of advanced materials such as 2D MXene flakes, which provide ultrathin, flexible, and highly conductive frameworks that enhance ion transport, interfacial stability, and mechanical robustness during folding.

Beyond storage, new chemistries—such as cathode-free concepts, halogen cathodes, and decoupled electrolytes—are beginning to expand the functional space of zinc microbatteries. In parallel, coupling these devices with micro-actuators demonstrates how zinc ion dynamics can be harnessed not only for powering but also for driving motion. Together, these developments point toward a new class of functional microsystems where actuation and energy storage are intertwined, providing a blueprint for the next generation of intelligent machines at sub-millimeter scales.

Bio:

Minshen Zhu is a research group leader in the Research Center for Materials, Architectures, and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN) at TU Chemnitz, Germany. He received his Ph.D. in materials science from the City University of Hong Kong in 2017 and subsequently joined the Institute for Integrative Nanosciences at Leibniz IFW Dresden, where he led pioneering research in microscale energy storage. In 2021, Zhu was awarded a prestigious ERC Starting Grant to advance his work on dust-sized zinc batteries for on-chip integration. His interdisciplinary research focuses on developing innovative, lithography-compatible battery systems designed for seamless integration into intelligent microsystems and bioelectronic platforms. Zhu has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, holds an h-index of 55, and his work continues to push the frontiers of micro- and nanoscale energy storage toward transformative applications in robotics, electronics, and healthcare.