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An eco-friendly water-soluble graphene-incorporated agar gel electrolyte for magnesium-air batteries

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Abstract

Agar is used to prepare an environment-friendly water-soluble graphene (WSG)-incorporated gel electrolyte for magnesium-air batteries. WSG is synthesised and incorporated into the different concentrations of agar. Their effects on the electrochemical performance in the battery cell are investigated through the ionic conductivity, corrosion and current discharge studies. The open-circuit voltage (OCV) of the assembled cells is between 1.7 and 1.6 V. The optimal gel electrolyte has an ionic conductivity of 8.62 × 10−2 S cm−1. The discharge capacity and energy density of assembled Mg-air battery with respect to Mg can reach up to 1010.60 mAh g−1 and 1406.09 mWh g−1, respectively. The performance of the assembled Mg-air battery is notable in regard to the small area, size and thickness of the laminated structure. In conclusion, WSG-incorporated 3% w/v agar gel electrolyte exhibits the highest electrochemical performance, which is an economical, inherently safe and environmentally benign biopolymer electrolyte for Mg-air batteries.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Grand Challenge (GC002A-15SBS) and the IPPP-UM (PG219-2016A).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), Level 3, Block A, Institute of Graduate Studies (IPS), University of Malaya (UM), 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Siaw Ying Liew, Joon Ching Juan & Chin Wei Lai

  2. School of Science, Monash University of Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

    Joon Ching Juan

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

    Guan-Ting Pan & Thomas C.-K. Yang

  4. Fuel Cell Institute (FCI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Tian Khoon Lee

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  1. Siaw Ying Liew
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Correspondence to Joon Ching Juan.

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Liew, S.Y., Juan, J.C., Lai, C.W. et al. An eco-friendly water-soluble graphene-incorporated agar gel electrolyte for magnesium-air batteries. Ionics 25, 1291–1301 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-018-2710-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-018-2710-4

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