Transparent Bendable Secondary Zinc-Air Batteries by Controlled Void Ionic Separators

First ever transparent bendable secondary zinc-air batteries were fabricated. Transparent stainless-steel mesh was utilized as the current collector for the electrodes due to its reliable mechanical stability and electrical conductivity. After which separate methods were used to apply the active red...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2019-02, Vol.9 (1), p.3175-3175, Article 3175
Main Authors: Kwon, Ohchan, Hwang, Ho Jung, Ji, Yunseong, Jeon, Ok Sung, Kim, Jeong Pil, Lee, Chanmin, Shul, Yong Gun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
140/125
639/166/898
639/624/1107
639/638/161/891
Electrical conductivity
Electrical insulation
Electrodes
Electrolytes
Electroplating
Fabrication
Humanities and Social Sciences
multidisciplinary
Optical properties
Polymers
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Separators
Zinc
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Summary:First ever transparent bendable secondary zinc-air batteries were fabricated. Transparent stainless-steel mesh was utilized as the current collector for the electrodes due to its reliable mechanical stability and electrical conductivity. After which separate methods were used to apply the active redox species. For the preparation of the anode, zinc was loaded by an electroplating process to the mesh. For the cathode, catalyst ink solution was spray coated with an airbrush for desired dimensions. An alkaline gel electrolyte layer was used for the electrolyte. Microscale domain control of the materials becomes a crucial factor for fabricating transparent batteries. As for the presented cell, anionic exchange polymer layer has been uniquely incorporated on to the cathode mesh as the separator which becomes a key procedure in the fabrication process for obtaining the desired optical properties of the battery. The ionic resin is applied in a fashion where controlled voids exist between the openings of the grid which facilitates light passage while guaranteeing electrical insulation between the electrodes. Further analysis correlates the electrode dimensions to the transparency of the system. Recorded average light transmittance is 48.8% in the visible light region and exhibited a maximum power density of 9.77 mW/cm 2 . The produced battery shows both transparent and flexible properties while maintaining a stable discharge/charge operation.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-38552-4