A novel Zn-PANI dry rechargeable battery

Conducting polyaniline (PANI) powder was well mixed with graphite and acetylene black to obtain the optimum conductivity and porosity. The mixed powder was compressed into a pellet for cathode. Zinc powder was mixed with some metal powder, and compressed into a pellet used as the anode. The electrolyte comprised ZnCl2, NH4Cl, Triton-X100 and PVA at pH 3. The battery has an open-circuit voltage of 1.44 V. The battery underwent charge-discharge cycle with a constant current density of 3 mA·cm−2, within the voltage range of 0.40 - 1.68 V. It is found that the capacity of the battery is related to the charge-discharge cycles, the maximum capacity is 67.9 mAh·g−1, and Coulombic efficiency is between 95% and 100%. The battery stability was also investigated after 78 d of standing without use. It is found that the battery experiences a self-discharge of less than 0.29% per day.