Fabrication and Electrochemical Behavior of Monoclinic CuO and CuO/Graphite Composite Nanoparticles as Cathode in an Alkaline Zn-CuO Battery

Abstract

Electrochemical properties of various rock-shaped-CuO/graphite (G) composites and monoclinic structure CuO nanoparticles as the cathode versus a zinc plate as the anode in a 4M NaOH electrolyte were elucidated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronopotentiometry (CP) in a two electrode configuration cell. Various values of G 9, 16 and 28 wt% were prepared and studied as cathode materials for an alkaline Zn-CuO Battery. The EIS results demonstrated that increasing the mass ratio of G caused significant decrease in charge transfer resistance (Rct) and capacitive behavior of the electrode. Also, the discharging voltage of the cells was increased due to raising the mass ratio of the graphite. Besides, electrochemical properties of the monoclinic structure CuO nanoparticles as cathode material in the alkaline battery was compared with a rock shaped CuO particles. The results showed that the discharged voltage of monoclinic CuO nanoparticles is less than another rock shaped CuO nanoparticles form.