Analysis of electrochemical double-layer capacitors using a Natural Rubber-Zn based polymer electrolyte

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) based on solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have gained an immense recognition in the present world due to their unique properties. This study is about preparing and characterizing EDLCs using a natural rubber (NR) based SPE with natural graphite (NG) electrodes. NR electrolyte was consisted with 49% methyl grafted natural rubber (MG49) and zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate ((Zn(CF3SO3)2-ZnTF). It was characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test, dc polarization test and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) test. NG electrodes were made using a slurry of NG and acetone. EIS test, cyclic voltammetry (CV) test and galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) test have been done to characterize the EDLC. Optimized electrolyte composition with NR: 0.6 ZnTF (weight basis) exhibited a conductivity of 0.6 x 10-4 Scm-1 at room temperature. Conductivity was predominantly due to ions. The electrochemical stability window was found to be from 0.25 V to 2.500 V. Electrolyte was sandwiched between two identical NG electrodes to fabricate an EDLC. Single electrode specific capacitance was about 2.26 Fg-1 whereas the single electrode discharge capacitance was about 1.17 Fg-1. The EDLC with this novel NR-ZnTF based SPE evidences its suitability to be used for different applications with further improvement.