Effect of binders on electrochemical properties of AgO cathode material for aqueous AgO−Al batteries

To improve the slow kinetics and poor mechanical strength of aqueous silver peroxide−aluminum (AgO−Al) battery cathode materials, the effects of different binders including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the AgO cathode material were investigated. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS), and galvanostatic discharge. In contrast to the pure AgO and AgO−PTFE electrodes, the results demonstrated that the PVP effectively bound the electrode materials together. The prepared AgO−PVP as the cathode material of AgO−Al batteries could improve the battery capacity, exhibiting a high specific capacity (389.95 mA·h/g at 500 mA/cm 2 ), a high operating voltage (1.75 V at 500 mA/cm 2 ), a maximum energy density (665.65 W·h/kg), and a maximum power density (5236 W/kg). Furthermore, the electrochemical mechanism of the AgO−PVP cathode material was examined, revealing that the electrode exhibited rapid ion diffusion and effective interfacial ion/electron transport.