Modulation of poly (acrylic acid) hydrogels with ?-carrageenan for high-performance quasi-solid Al-air batteries

Primary quasi-solid Al-air batteries using hydrogels have attracted increasing research attention owing to their high energy density, good handling, safety and reliability. However, it is still difficult to develop hydrogel electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and water retention owing to limited capacity of single material hydrogels. Herein, we report a hydrogel electrolyte of poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) is modified by kappa-carrageenan (KC) for solid-state Al-air batteries. The result suggests that the hydrogels not only exhibit outstanding water retention but also high ionic conductivity, which is attributed to the amorphous phase and hydrophilic group of the KC. Additionally, the lifespan of solid-state Al-air battery is extended at a current density of 5 mA cm-2 owing to adding KC. Further, the lifetime of open Al-air batteries is improved by self-corrosion inhibition of Al anode.

Automated summary

Primary quasi-solid Al-air batteries using hydrogels have gained attention due to their high energy density, good handling, safety, and reliability. However, developing hydrogel electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and water retention remains challenging. This study introduces a modified hydrogel electrolyte using kappa-carrageenan (KC) in poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) for solid-state Al-air batteries. The results show that these hydrogels demonstrate outstanding water retention and high ionic conductivity, attributed to the amorphous phase and hydrophilic group of KC. Additionally, adding KC extends the lifespan of the solid-state Al-air battery at a current density of 5 mA cm-2.