Hydrogel Leclanché Cell: Construction and Characterization

Greg Jenson, Gurjap Singh, Jay K. Bhama and Albert Ratner
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Greg Jenson: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Gurjap Singh: Bhama-Ratner Artificial Heart & MCS Advancement Lab, University of Iowa Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3131 Seamans Ctr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Jay K. Bhama: Bhama-Ratner Artificial Heart & MCS Advancement Lab, University of Iowa Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3131 Seamans Ctr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Albert Ratner: Bhama-Ratner Artificial Heart & MCS Advancement Lab, University of Iowa Department of Mechanical Engineering, 3131 Seamans Ctr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: A liquid-to-gel based Leclanché cell has been designed, constructed and characterized for use in implantable medical devices and other applications where battery access is limited. This well-established chemistry will provide reliable electrochemical potential over a wide range of applications and the novel construction provides a solution for the re-charging of electrodes in hard to access areas such as an internal pacemaker. The traditional Leclanché cell, comprised of zinc (anode) and manganese dioxide (cathode), conductive carbon powder (acetylene black or graphite), and aqueous electrolyte (NH 4 Cl and ZnCl 2 ), has been suspended in an agar hydrogel to simplify construction while maintaining electrochemical performance. Agar hydrogel, saturated with electrolyte, serves as the cell support and separator allowing for the discharged battery suspension to be easily replaced once exhausted. Different amounts of active anode/cathode material have been tested and discharge characteristics have been plotted. It has been found that for the same amount of active material, acetylene black batteries have higher energy density compared to graphite batteries. Graphite batteries also discharge faster compared to acetylene black batteries. The results support further development of liquid batteries that can be replaced and refilled upon depletion.

Keywords: hydrogel; Leclanché; refillable; primary cell; liquid battery; liquid cathode; liquid anode; graphite; acetylene black; energy density (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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