PLASTICIZED PVA/PVP-KOH ALKALINE SOLID POLYMER BLEND ELECTROLYTE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

Solid polymer electrolytes comprising a blend of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) with different concentration of potassium hydroxide (KOH) as ionic dopant were prepared using a solution-casting technique. The conductivity was enhanced to (1.5 +/- 1.1) x 10(-4) S cm(-1) when 40 wt.% KOH was added. The highest conductivity exhibited when 20wt.% ethylene carbonate (EC) and 30wt.% propylene carbonate (PC) was added into the PVA/PVP-KOH sample electrolytes. Conductivity temperature dependence of the plasticized samples was established to obey an Arrhenian relationship with the activation energy of the order of 0.08-0.4 eV, depending on the plasticizer concentration. Electrochemical cells of Zn|PVA/PVP-KOH+EC|MnO2 and Zn|PVA/PVP-KOH+PC|MnO2 have been fabricated. The discharge characteristics of the cells are considered under a constant current of 1 mA. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and discharge capacity of the cells are measured.