Preparation of a novel porous gel electrolyte and its application in micro supercapacitor

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Vol. 782; pp. 154 - 160
• Main Authors: Ping, Zhu, XiaoJing, Lv, Anye, Ren, Peng, Gao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2016; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Capacitance; Capacitance retention; Chemical compatibility; Component parts; Cycle performances; Dimensional stability; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Ethylene glycol; Gel electrolyte; Heat conductivity; High aspect ratio; Micro supercapacitor; Molds; Morphology; Organic chemistry; Performance enhancement; Polypyrroles; Polyvinyl alcohol; Potassium hydroxides; Preparation methods; Ruthenium oxide; Scanning electron microscopy; Structural stability; Supercapacitors; Surface stability; Thermal stability; Thiocyanates; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Micro supercapacitor; Gel electrolyte; Capacitance retention; Preparation methods; Cycle performances
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2016.10.021

The present paper explores preparation of gel electrolyte and composition methods applied in micro supercapacitor. By virtue of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), electrochemical workstation, and LCR Meter, it studies comparatively the surface morphology, thermal stability of the polyvinyl alcohol – potassium hydroxide – potassium thiocyanate – ethylene glycol (PVA-KOH-KSCN-EG) and PVA-KOH-KSCN gel electrolytes and electrochemical compatibility with polypyrrole/graphene oxide - ruthenium oxide (PPy/GO-RuO2) membrane electrode for micro supercapacitor. The study shows that the PVA-KOH-KSCN-EG gel electrolyte at 70°C has a good thermal stability, easily entering the structure of micro three-dimensional mould cavity with high aspect ratio, which increases the actual distribution area of the electrolyte entering pore domain of membrane material, reaching the purpose of increasing the effective area of polarizing electrode. The added EG in PVA-KOH-KSCN gel electrolyte for modification not only improves the particle conductivity, but also has sound chemical compatibility with PPy/GO-RuO2 membrane electrode, improving cycle performances, decreasing the resistance, and ameliorating diffusion phenomenon of capacitance in micro supercapacitor. The conclusion is drawn that PVA-KOH-KSCN-EG gel solution system enhances cycle performances, capacitance retention and power property of micro supercapacitor.