Influence of different silica gelling agents on the performance of aqueous gel electrolytes

In this study, gel electrolytes are prepared from silica gelling agents and aqueous electrolyte for application in the rechargeable hybrid aqueous battery for the first time. The required quantities of silica materials are in the range of 4-15 wt.%. The gelling time is in the magnitude of minutes and the ionic conductivities of gel electrolytes are in the range of 50.6-60.6 mS cm(-1). These batteries using these gel electrolytes exhibit higher rate capability, slower self-discharge (ca.15% after 24 h), and up to 10-12% higher cyclability compared with the performance of the batteries using the conventional liquid electrolyte. (C) 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.