Linear low-density polyethylene-g-poly(acrylic acid)/(organo-montmorillonite) hydrogel composite as hydrogel electrolytes for zinc-carbon batteries

A hydrogel composite that has been prepared by using waste linear low-density polyethylene, acrylic acid, and organo-montmorillonite (LLDPE-g-PAA/OMMT) is used as a hydrogel electrolyte. An absorbency test was used to determine the percentage of ZnCl2 solution absorbed by the hydrogel composite. The swelling behavior of the hydrogel composite in the ZnCl2 solution was then studied. The highest absorbency was recorded when the concentration of ZnCl2 solution was 3 M. The conductivity of ZnCl2-hydrogel composite electrolytes is dependent on the solution's concentration. A mixture of ZnCl2 solution with hydrogel composite yields a good hydrogel composite electrolyte with a conductivity of 0.039 S cm(-1) at 3 M ZnCl2. The hydrogel composite electrolyte was used to produce zinc-carbon cells. The fabricated cell gives capacity of 7.8 mAh, has an internal resistance of 9.9 , a maximum power density of 15.78 mWcm(-2), and a short-circuit current density of 43.75 mAcm(-2) for ZnCl2-hydrogel composite electrolytes. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:279-284, 2016. (c) 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers