Electrochemical Performance of Polymer and Potassium Salt Electrolyte
Loading...
Date
2018-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Current batteries require further research to fulfil the stability, cost, and energy requirements of modern technology. Potassium-oxygen batteries show promise in their large specific energy and high round-trip efficiency; however, further research is required develop this technology. Using a polymer-in-salt electrolyte instead of an organic based electrolyte could improve the cycle life of the battery while retaining its efficiency and performance. As of yet, little research has been conducted to determine the performance of these polymer-in-salt electrolytes in potassium-oxygen batteries. The goal of this study was to investigate the performance of the KMPSA salt and PEO (polyethylene oxide) polymer mixture in a potassium-oxygen battery. Coarse-grained molecular simulations within LAMMPS were conducted with different weight ratios of KMPSA. These simulations provided insight into how the electrolyte behaved. In addition, theoretical conductivity was calculated once the system achieved equilibrium. KMPSA was synthesized, characterized, and mixed with prepared PEO (Mn = 4 x 103) to produce a viscous electrolyte. Attempts to test this electrolyte in a potassium-oxygen battery produced inconclusive results.