Studies on a proton battery using gel polymer electrolyte

Abstract

A proton-conducting film of gel polymer electrolyte, poly(vinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene)/poly(methyl methacrylate) + ammonium thiocyanate + ethylene carbonate + propylene carbonate, has been prepared by solution casting technique. The ionic conductivity of the film is in the order of approximately 10⁻³ S cm^{− 1} at room temperature. A proton battery with the configuration zinc + zinc sulfate heptahydrate | gel electrolyte | lead oxide + vanadium pentoxide has been fabricated using this film as electrolyte and separator between the electrodes. The battery shows an open circuit voltage of 1.45 V and energy density of approximately 10 Wh kg⁻¹at low current drain. The rechargeability of the battery has been observed up to three cycles after which its discharge capacity starts fading.