abstract
Green electrolytes composed of kappa-carrageenan (kappa-Cg), 1-butyl-3-methyl- 1H-imidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) ionic liquid, and glycerol (Gly) are prepared in aqueous solution using a simple, clean, fast and low-cost procedure. A flexible membrane incorporating 50% wt [Bmim] Cl and 50% wt Gly with respect to kappa-Cg exhibits the highest ionic conductivity values (8.47 x 10(-4)/2.45 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 20/66 degrees C, under anhydrous conditions, and 5.49 x 10(-2)/0.186 S cm(-1) at 30/60 degrees C, at a relative humidity of 98%). Tests of room temperature air/hydrogen fuel cells incorporating kappa-Cg, kappa-Cg/Gly, and kappa-Cg/ Gly/[Bmim] Cl membranes demonstrate that these predominantly protonic conductors electrolytes are particularly well suited for the design and fabrication of eco-friendly electrochemical devices whose operation does not require the flow of gases and does not lead to water formation. These new materials have excellent application prospects in high performance (flexible) energy storage devices (supercapacitors and batteries) and electrochromic devices.
keywords
PROTIC IONIC LIQUIDS; HIGH-PERFORMANCE SUPERCAPACITORS; AB-INITIO CALCULATIONS; POLYMER ELECTROLYTE; KAPPA-CARRAGEENAN; ELECTROCHROMIC DEVICES; PROTONIC CONDUCTIVITY; COMPOSITE MEMBRANES; NMR-SPECTROSCOPY; ENERGY-STORAGE
subject category
Science & Technology - Other Topics
authors
Nunes, SC; Pereira, RFP; Sousa, N; Silva, MM; Almeida, P; Figueiredo, FML; Bermudez, VD
our authors
Filipe Miguel H Lebre R Figueiredo
Principal Researcher
Nuno André Carvalho Sousa
PhD StudentProjects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UID/CTM/50011/2013)
Luminescent electrochromic devices incorporating organic/inorganic (bio)hybrid electrolytes (LUMECD)
acknowledgements
This work was supported by National Funds by FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology-and by FEDER funds through the POCI-COMPETE 2020-Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalisation in Axis I - Strengthening research, technological development and innovation (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007491, FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037271, Pest-OE/QUI/UI0616/2014, Pest-C/QUI/UI0686/2013, PEst-OE/SAU/UI0709/2014, UID/CTM/50011/2013, UID/Multi/00709/2013 and LUMECD project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016884 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/0956/2014)), project UniRCell (Ref. SAICTPAC/0032/2015, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016422), by COST Action MP1202880 "Rational design of hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces" and by the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN). S.C.N. acknowledge FCT for grants, Post-Ph.D. Fellowship of LUMECD project and SFRH/BPD/63152/2009. R.F. P.P., N.S., and F.M.F. acknowledge FCT for grants (SFRH/BPD/87759/2012, SFRH/BD/89670/2012, and IF/01174/2013, respectively). The authors thank CPKelco (USA) for providing the kappa-carrageenan sample. F.M.N. (University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) is acknowledged for helpful discussions.