Study of cylindrical Zn/PANI secondary batteries with the electrolyte containing alkylimidazolium ionic liquid

Polyaniline doped with ZnCl 2 (PANI/Zn 2+ ) is prepared by chemical polymerization of aniline in a solution of 0.3   M aniline, 0.3   M zinc chloride, 1.0   M hydrochloric acid and 0.33   M ammonium persulfate at 5   °C. Polyaniline powder is mixed with acetylene black and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to be used as positive electrodes (cathodes) in batteries. Zinc powder is mixed with alloyed powder (65   wt.% Cu, 20   wt.% Sn, 15   wt.% Zn), acetylene black and CMC to obtain the negative electrodes (anodes). The battery electrolyte comprises 1.0   M ZnCl 2 and 2.0   M NH 4 Cl in the aqueous solution of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (EMIES) (water/EMIES, 92:8 by volume). EMIES is added to the battery electrolyte to prevent the formation of Zn dendrites. The assembled cylindrical battery has an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.32   V and the maximum specific capacity of the battery is 89.9   mAh   g −1 at pH 4.0.