Title
Biodegradable hybrid polymer matrix based on starch for gel polymer electrolytes – exploring alternatives for sustainable sodium-ion batteries
Authors
[ 1 ] Instytut Chemii i Elektrochemii Technicznej, Wydział Technologii Chemicznej, Politechnika Poznańska | [ P ] employee
Scientific discipline (Law 2.0)
Year of publication
2026
Published in
Article type
scientific article
Publication language
english
Keywords
EN
- Biodegradability
- Gel polymer electrolyte
- Hybrid polymer matrix
- Potato starch
- Sodium-ion battery
Abstract
EN Poly(vinyl alcohol) and starch are considered safe and non-toxic, and, as such, they may reduce the environmental impact of battery materials compared to conventionally used polymers. A set of gel polymer electrolytes with starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix was synthesized to assess their compatibility with materials for sodium-based batteries. The starch content in electrolytes affected their viscosity, morphology, and rigidity. The obtained electrolytes demonstrated high ionic conductivities reaching up to 8.97 mS cm−1 for starch-rich 95:5_S:PVA at 25 °C, with activation energies of the overall ion conduction process below 25 kJmol−1. From the perspective of electrochemical properties and operating characteristics, the optimal electrolyte was 10:90_S:PVA. A cell with this electrolyte supplied an average discharge capacity of ∼110 mAh g−1 at C/20, although it retained around 50 % after 65 cycles. The presented research ventures into the subject of battery materials sustainability. We performed a preliminary, exploratory study on the gel polymer electrolyte degradation in soil, e.g., upon an accidental penetration into the environment. We proposed three tests to assess the potential biodegradability of the polymer matrix: soil burial, phytotoxicity to germinating seeds, and CO2 evolution. It is a step in the direction of creating electrolytes from easily recyclable and less dangerous components.
Pages (from - to)
238872-1 - 238872-12
Ministry points / journal
140
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