The fabrication of exfoliated graphite sheet-based air cathodes and gel electrolyte for metal-air batteries

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we demonstrate that activated carbon (AC) and manganese dioxide (MnO₂) coated exfoliated graphite sheets are a promising cathode for metal-air batteries. A simple and effective method is developed to exfoliate the graphite sheets and to load a catalyst onto their surfaces. Several low-cost, environmentally friendly air cathodes are fabricated, and their performances are tested by constructing Al-air b`atteries whose electrolyte 6 M NaOH, including ZnO inhibitor, is gelled by adding a cost-effective water retainer. The experimental results show that this new Al-air battery has a good discharge performance. In particular one of the new cathodes containing 50 wt% AC and 50 wt% MnO₂ produces a capacity of 311 mAh/g at a constant current discharge of 1.56 mA. Finally, future research directions are discussed for the further usage of the fabricated cathodes.

KEYWORDS:

• Exfoliated graphite
• activated carbon
• gelled electrolyte
• air cathode
• metal air battery

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Scientific Research Project section of Gaziantep University (MF. DT. 18.12).