A novel redox capacitor with a natural rubber-based solid polymer electrolyte for energy applications

Abstract

The development of high-performance power sources such as super capacitors (EDLCs and redox capacitors) has become an urgent requirement in recent years due to the unprecedented growth of portable technology. The present study was carried out to fabricate a redox capacitor using a natural rubber-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE). Zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (ZnTf), propylene carbonate (PC), and pyrrole were used as electrode materials whereas ZnTf and methyl-grafted natural rubber (MGNR) were used to prepare the SPE. Warburg type diffusion as well as capacitive behavior was observed from the EIS test. Single electrode specific capacitance (Csc) from cyclic voltammetry (CV) was 27.5 Fg−1 at the scan rate of 10 mVs−1. Retention of the Csc value was 92% over 500 cycles. Single electrode specific discharge capacitance (Csd) found from galvanostatic charge discharge test was 6 Fg−1.