Polymerization and Curing Time Interactive Study of Gel-Polymer Electrolyte (GPE) for electrical applications

Abstract

A hydrogel is a familiar material for its hydrophilic nature, it can hold a large amount of water in its three-dimensional structure. Highly conductive, transparent and flexible conductive hydrogel was produced using cross-linking polymerization which is also called as gel-polymer electrolyte (GPE). GPEs are used in multiple electrical applications. Curing time was a major factor to see the variation in properties by changing curing time in this research. The material was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal system confirmation, the fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was carried out to see the chemical composition and presence of functional groups. Morphological studies were held using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for the measurement of Ionic conductivity and bulk resistance of GPE, curve fitting was done with the help of Z-view software. The ionic conductivity measured through this technique was observed higher in sample number cured at three hours with decreasing bulk resistance and increasing input potential with the comparison of other samples which were cured at low temperatures. This material is seen highly efficient for electrical connectors, energy storage devices and transparent smart screens.