Viability of MCM-41 Inorganic Membrane Separator in Secondary Nickel-Zinc Cell

The viability of MCM-41 inorganic membrane as a separator material in secondary nickel-zinc cell is investigated. MCM-41 mesoporous material consists of arrays of hexagonal nano-channels. The membrane is synthesized by dip-coating procedures from parent solution comprising of quarternary ammonium surfactant, cethyltrimethylammonium bromide C₁₆H₃₃(CH₃)₃NBr (CTAB), hydrochloric acid (HCl), deionized water (H₂O), ethanol (C₂H₅OH), and tetraethylortosilicate (TEOS). Both the anodic zinc foil and cathodic nickel hydroxide electrodeposited film are coated with MCM-41 membrane. The Ni/MCM-41/Zn alkaline cell is then subjected to 100-cycle durability test. The charge-discharge plot showed typical secondary zinc anode profile – rapid capacity fading. X-ray diffraction analysis on the dismantled cell indicated the transformation of MCM-41 hexagonal matrix structure into MCM-50 lamellar gel form which prevent the mesoporous cell separator from diminished in the caustic alkaline surround.