Performance-tuning of PVA-based gel electrolytes by acid/PVA ratio and PVA molecular weight
Saeideh Alipoori, Mehrangiz Torkzadeh, Saeedeh Mazinani, Seyed Hamed Aboutalebi, Farhad Sharif
Abstract
Abstract The significant breakthroughs of flexible gel electrolytes have attracted extensive attention in modern wearable electronic gadgets. The lack of all-around high-performing gels limits the advantages of such devices for practical applications. To this end, developing a multi-functional gel architecture with superior ionic conductivity while enjoying good mechanical flexibility is a bottleneck to overcome. Herein, an architecturally engineered gel, based on PVA and H 3 PO 4 with different molecular weights of PVA for various PVA/H 3 PO 4 ratios, was developed. The results show the dependence of ionic conductivity on molecular weight and also charge carrier concentration. Consequently, fine-tuning of PVA-based gels through a simple yet systematic and well-regulated strategy to achieve highly ion-conducting gels, with the highest ionic conductivity of 14.75 ± 1.39 mS cm -1 have been made to fulfill the requirement of flexible devices. More importantly, gel electrolytes possess good mechanical robustness while exhibiting high-elasticity (%766.66 ± 59.73), making it an appropriate candidate for flexible devices.