Electrochemical characteristics of new electric double layer capacitor with acidic polymer hydrogel electrolyte

The acidic polymer hydrogel electrolyte was prepared from 1M H2SO4 aqueous solution, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and glutaraldehyde (GA). A new electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) with the polymer hydrogel electrolyte was assembled, and its electrochemical characteristics were investigated. As a result, the EDLC cell with the polymer hydrogel electrolyte exhibited almost the same discharge capacitance and high-rate dischargeability as that with a 1M H2SO4 aqueous solution as an electrolyte. It was also found that the self-discharge was remarkably suppressed by using the polymer hydrogel electrolyte. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.