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