Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Electrical Engineering
Session: 2
Room: Exhibit Hall
Larry Matthew G Minor - Florida State University
Co-Author(s): Arash Takshi, Ph.D., University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gels are a form of electrolyte commonly used in electrochemical devices. However, age can drastically affect the viscosity and electrical conductivity of a gel, eventually making it unviable. To evaluate how aging affects the properties of a PVA based gel, using PVA with different acids, a variety of gels were synthesized and tested regularly using a viscometer and a four-probe conductivity measurement system. Phosphoric acid-based gels with high concentrations of acid were found to be the most viable out of the tested forms despite the increased risk of elevated viscosity. The results may be used to determine the most appropriate gel synthesis procedure more efficiently and to allow better consideration of how aging may affect the results of subsequent experiments using the gels. Future research should involve testing over a longer period and further testing of the properties of gels made with different acids and concentrations.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This research was funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program Award Number 1560303.
Faculty Advisor: Arash Takshi, Ph.D., atakshi@usf.edu
Role: Synthesized all poly(vinyl alcohol) gel samples and performed all tests.