9 research outputs found
Effect of mixed cations in synergizing the performance characteristics of PVA-based polymer electrolytes for novel category Zn/AgO polymer batteries—a preliminary study
Thin films of polymer electrolytes comprising of
PVA and KOH (A) with and without the addition of zinc
salts, viz., zinc acetate (B) and zinc triflate (C) as mixed
cations were prepared via. solution casting method. The
thermal stability and ionic conductivity of PVA–KOH solid
polymer electrolyte (A) were improved by the partial
substitution of KOH with zinc salts. Among the two salts,
zinc triflate was found to improve both the physical as well
as electrochemical properties of the PVA–KOH films more
significantly than zinc acetate. An attempt to optimize the
ratio of various components of polymer electrolytes, viz.,
polymer: KOH: zinc salt was also made, based on the
dimensional stability and ionic conductivity values. Finally,
the select category polymer film containing PVA–KOH–
zinc triflate (C) in an optimum ratio of 40:35:25 was
deployed in coin cell fabrication and subjected to charge–
discharge studies with a view to demonstrate the possible
electrochemical reversibility characteristics. Based on the
encouraging results obtained from the cycling study, C type
films [PVA–KOH–zinc triflate] qualify themselves as
potential polymer electrolytes for use in rechargeable Zn/
AgO polymer batteries
Effect of Polyaniline Coating on “Shape Change” Phenomenon of Porous Zinc Electrode
Performance of porous zinc electrode in alkaline secondary battery systems suffers mainly from shape change and dendrite
growth. Polyaniline coating in direct contact with porous zinc electrode was found to restrict zincate movement away from the test
electrode, which otherwise may lead to a decrease in electrode surface area �shape change of the electrode� on repeated cycling.
Constant current charge/discharge cycles of the blank and polyaniline-coated zinc electrodes have been carried out to assess the
performance of the polymer film. It was found that a fibrous network of polyaniline coating allows OH− ions and restricts the
diffusion of zincate ions
Stabilization of zinc electrodes with a conducting polymer
The reversibility of zinc anode in alkaline medium was enhanced by electrostatic deposition of a conducting polymer (polypyrrole). Electropolymerization
of pyrrole onto zinc in aqueous medium using an organic acid as dopant is feasible and preferred as zinc is less corrosive in this medium.
The structure of the polymer film was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of the polypyrrole deposit on
the zinc electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry and charge–discharge cycling