Influence of the performance of Gel Polymer Electrolyte (GPE) with the addition of SiO2 and Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) for Zinc-Air Batteries (ZABs)

Mohammad Ghimnastiar Ulsak; Hary Devianto; Pramujo Widiatmoko

Mohammad Ghimnastiar Ulsak Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Hary Devianto Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Pramujo Widiatmoko Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesa 10, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

Keywords: GPE, PVA, SiO2, CMC, ZABs

Abstract

PVA is a non-toxic, semi-crystalline polymer with good hydrophilicity that is also simple to produce. Consequently, PVA is strongly suggested as a potential material in GPE synthesis. GPE was created by converting the host polymer Poly-Vinyl Alcohol (PVA), which was utilized as a matrix and expanded when exposed to a 6M KOH solution. The thermal stability, mechanical toughness, and electrochemical toughness of GPE have all been proven to be improved by SiO2. SiO2 works as a plasticizer and crosslinker to make GPE more elastic. It also tends to make PVA more amorphous, which is predicted to make GPE more absorbent to 6M KOH. The SiO2 surface's hydroxyl groups offer water-resistance characteristics that enable the zinc-air battery to operate at its best. It has been demonstrated that cellulose may significantly enhance the structure of GPE, which is more amorphous, and is anticipated to be able to raise the GPE's ionic conductivity value. The highest GPE-3 ionic conductivity is 6.288 mS/cm meanwhile the highest GPE-6 ionic conductivity is 5.645 mS/cm and the highest GPE-0A ionic conductivity is 0.997 mS/cm.

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