Aquatic Colloidal Graphene Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Flexible Rechargeable Zinc Air Batteries


 An alkaline gel polymer electrolyte: poly (acrylic acid)-zinc acetate (Zn(AC)2)-aquatic colloidal graphene (ACG) solution (PAA-Zn(AC)2-ACG) was prepared by solution casting method. The properties of PAA-Zn(AC)2-ACG were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), AC impedance, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and water retention ability. The results show that PAA-Zn(AC)2-ACG exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 407.9 mS·cm–1, an electrochemical stability window of 1.7 V, and 72.5% water retention ability. Flexible zinc-air batteries (ZABs) with PAA-Zn(AC)2-ACG gel polymer electrolyte has an better discharge capacity of 672 mAh g, a continuous charge and discharge duration was 43.3 h, 130 cycles, and a cycle efficiency of 64.8%. Finally, flexible ZABs shows advantageous prospects and proving the feasibility of flexible ZABs.