Gel Polymer Electrolytes (GPEs) composed by ZnTf₂ salt, poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), and different ionic liquids are synthesized using n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent. Three different imidazolium-based ionic liquids containing diverse cations and anions have been explored. Structural and electrical properties of the GPEs varying the ZnTf₂ concentration are analyzed by ATR-FTIR, DSC, TG, and cyclic voltammetry. Free salt IL-GPEs present distinct behavior because they are influenced by the different IL cations and anions composition. However, inclusion of ZnTf₂ salt inside the polymers provide GPEs with very similar characteristics, pointing out that ionic transport properties are principally caused by Zn(2+) and triflate movement. Whatever the IL used, the presence of NMP solvent inside the polymer's matrix turns out to be a key factor for improving the Zn(2+) transport inside the GPE due to the interaction between Zn(2+) cations and carbonyl groups of the NMP. High values of ionic conductivity, low activation energy values, and good voltammetric reversibility obtained regardless of the ionic liquid used enable these GPEs to be applied in Zn batteries. Capacities of 110-120 mAh·g(-1) have been obtained for Zn/IL-GPE/MnO₂ batteries discharged at -1 mA·cm(-2).
Keywords: cation transport number; ionic conductivity; ionic liquid-based Gel Polymer Electrolytes; zinc batteries.