High voltage zinc-manganese (IV) dioxide battery with immobilized pH gradient Anzelms Zukuls, Ramona Durena, Nikita Griscenko, Riga Technical University, Latvia The desire for energy storage grows due to increasing green energy production with wind, solar and other energy harvesting methods. This process drives the emergence and development of new battery design and technologies. Each type of battery has its own use, advantages and disadvantages; the suitability of batteries varies depending on their performance and parameters. Primary alkaline Zn-MnO 2 batteries, known as the oldest modern battery technology, with development of rechargeability have the potential to be used for larger energy storage systems. The latest research in the creation of dual electrolytes, both with [1] and without membranes [2] , opens up a wider opportunity for aqueous Zn-MnO 2 battery application. By creating two electrolyte environments (acidic and alkaline) in aqueous Zn-MnO 2 batteries, it is possible to increase the open circuit potential of the studied batteries up to 2.4V. With the anode (Zn) in the alkaline and the cathode (MnO 2 ) in the acidic electrolyte, the overall potential of the battery increases as more favourable chemical reactions occur. In this work, our team provides an insight into the research on immobilized pH gradient electrolyte aqueous Zn- MnO 2 amphoteric batteries. The electrolytes for this battery were made from acrylamide hydrogels with acidic and alkaline immobilines polymerized into gel to ensure optimal environmental conditions at each of the electrodes. The electrode materials were analysed with SEM, EDX and XRD measurements before and after battery cycling. Electrochemical measurements of constructed battery were evaluated with an Autolab PGSTAT302N. The obtained results showed that it is possible to increase the energy density of aqueous Zn-MnO 2 batteries (comparing to primary alkaline batteries) by applying the dual-electrolyte. Also, the operation improvement of immobilezed pH gradient cells were achieved comparing to previously studied Pluronic F127 hydrogel batteries [2] , thus enhancing the performance of the amphoteric battery. The stability of immobilized pH gradient aqueous Zn-MnO 2 battery cell was prolonged to over several days and capacity stability over charge/discharge cycles were maintained. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Latvian Council of Science in the framework of FLPP (Investigation of electrodes and electrolytes for obtaining amphoteric decoupled rechargeable batteries, lzp-2021/1-0142). References 1. Nat. Energy. 2020, 5, 440–449 2. Electrochim. Acta. 2022, 434, 141275
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