Alkaline Zn-air and Al-air cells based on novel solid PVA/PAA polymer electrolyte membranes

High ionic conducting solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEM) had been successfully prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The solution casting method yielded highly hydrophilic membranes with uniform structure that were suitable for electrochemical applications. The room temperature ionic conductivity of the alkaline PVA/PAA polymer electrolyte membranes was in the range of 0.142–0.301 S cm−1 depending on the composition. The cyclic voltammetry analysis was carried out using Zn|SPEM|Zn and Al|SPEM|Al cells. The analysis results revealed the excellent electrochemical stability of these newly developed alkaline solid PVA/PAA polymer electrolyte membranes. Metal-air fuel cells were also prepared from the alkaline solid PVA/PAA polymer electrolyte membranes. The electrochemical cell performance was evaluated based on Zn-air and Al-air cells at C/10 and C/5 discharge rates. The experimental results exhibited high percent of utilization for metal powders at room temperature. It was up to 90% for Zn-air cell when assembled with PVA:PAA = 10:7.5 polymer electrolyte membrane and discharged at C/10 rate. The power density could be as high as 50 mW cm−2 at room temperature. However, the cell percent utilization was reduced to 73% with the same composition electrolyte membrane when C/5 discharge rate was tested.