Investigation of Silver Oxide Electrochemical Behavior to Improve Silver-Zinc Battery Rechargeability

Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling experiments where performed on silver thin films in conjunction with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to identify the intermediate species and mass transport properties at the surface of a silver cathode in the presence of gelled aqueous electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was then employed to characterize the physical effects from changing the discharge rates and the state-of-charge.  The use of additives on the surface and in the electrolyte was also explored and characterized. The results were then utilized in silver-zinc rechargeable button cell batteries and tested for increased electrode utilization, charge rate capability, and cycle life improvement.