Acrylamide-derived freestanding polymer gel electrolyte for flexible metal-air batteries

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 400; pp. 566 - 571
• Main Authors: Tan, Mein Jin, Li, Bing, Chee, Peilin, Ge, Xiaoming, Liu, Zhaolin, Zong, Yun, Loh, Xian Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Aluminium-air batteries; Flexible batteries; Metal-air batteries; Polyacrylamide; Polymer gel electrolyte; Zinc-air batteries; Aluminium-air batteries; Metal-air batteries; Polymer gel electrolyte; Flexible batteries; Zinc-air batteries; Polyacrylamide
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.066

Robust freestanding polymer gel electrolytes (PGEs) are fabricated via a facile approach and used for flexible zinc-air (Zn-air) and aluminium-air (Al-air) batteries. The fabrication involves an ultraviolet light-initiated free radical polymerization of acrylamide using N,N′-methylenebis (acrylamide) as crosslinker to form a partially crosslinked polyacrylamide, and the soaking of the resultant polymer in a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution or a saline. With their merits of good flexibility, high ionic conductivity (σ = 0.33 S cm−1), easy fabrication and scalability, these freestanding PGEs qualify as superb candidates to enable high performance flexible metal-air batteries. The Zn-air batteries show no noticeable performance degradation at a bending angle down to 60°, delivering a power density of 39 mW cm−2 and a stable voltage profile over 50 h of continuous cycling (1 h per cycle) with a discharge and charge potential of 1.2 and 2.0 V, respectively. The flexible Al-air battery assembled using a neutral pH PGE and a household aluminium foil anode gives a high areal specific capacity of up to 20 mAh cm−2. [Display omitted] •Developed ion-conductive freestanding polymer gel electrolyte with σ = 0.33 S cm−1.•Enabled Zn-air batteries with fully retained performance at a bent angle down to 60°.•Achieved 37% longer cycle life for Zn-air batteries than other electrolytes.•Facilitated Al-air battery to deliver high areal specific capacity of 20 mAh cm−2.