Converting Primary Alkaline Batteries to Rechargeable Solid-State Batteries via Single-Anion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes

Demand for energy storage devices to supply society with its ever-increasing energy needs necessitates the development of portable power systems with enhanced energy efficiency, long cycle life, and improved safety. Lithium-ion batteries currently dominate the rechargeable battery market, but their reliance on expensive and non-US sourced active materials and flammable electrolytes leave the door open for researchers to develop rechargeable batteries based on alternative chemistries.<br/>Here, we report on the synthesis and characterization of a polymeric hydroxide-conducting solid-state electrolyte (SSE) and demonstrate that this SSE facilitates rechargeability in alkaline Ag–Zn cells that are conventionally used as primary batteries. Utilizing a library of inhouse-synthesized styrenic monomers to generate custom SSEs, we found that the architecture of the polymer not only influences the stability of the SSE, but also the capacity and cycle life. Infrared (IR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS) were utilized in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess the SSE and electrode chemistries before and after electrochemical cycling to evaluate for stability and active material-crossover. Combining electrochemistry (impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic cycling) with these results, we determined that crosslinking, chemistry of the quaternizing agent, and the electrode quality/geometry influence Ag–Zn cell performance.