Cultivating Engineering-Oriented Thinking via Dry-Electrode Processing and Pouch-Cell Assembly in an Aqueous Zinc–Iodine Battery Experiment

Most battery-related educational experiments emphasize fundamental redox concepts while giving far less attention to cell-architecture design or industrial advances. Consequently, many exercises employ simple coin cells rather than practical pouch formats, despite broad recognition that coin cells are unreliable proxies for electrochemical evaluation. Herein, we present a two-session (10 h) laboratory experiment that brings industrially relevant manufacturing technology into chemical education by integrating advanced dry-electrode processing with practical pouch-cell assembly on an aqueous zinc–iodine battery platform. Students fabricate dry-processed and high-loading iodine cathodes using a consumer-grade blender, assemble large-capacity stacked pouch cells entirely under ambient conditions (no dry room), and complete the full workflow from materials synthesis to electrochemical evaluation. The hands-on experience deepens understanding of the dry-processed electrode formation mechanism and provides an intuitive grasp of pouch-cell structural design. Importantly, comparative electrochemical performance of coin versus pouch formats helps students understand how cell architecture affects performance, an aspect rarely emphasized in typical teaching laboratories. Implemented in a graduate course, questionnaires and postlab exercises indicate significant learning gains and successful independent completion of all tasks. This activity offers a practical platform for cultivating engineering-oriented thinking in battery research.