Year

2017

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Intelligent Polymer Research Institute

Abstract

Biodegradable implantable medical bionics can be used to diagnose and/or treat disease and eventually disappear without surgical removal. If an “external” energy source is required for effective operation, then a biocompatible/biodegradable battery would be ideal.

This thesis is focused on the development of biocompatible/biodegradable air cathode materials and polymer electrolytes for implantable Mg-air batteries. Bioresorbable Mg alloy serves as the anode because of its benign biological function and high theoretical capacity. Polypyrrole with excellent electroactivity and biocompatibility satisfies the requirements for cathodes. To obviate its inherent non-biodegradability, a biopolymer component affording biodegradability is introduced in forming a composite. Polymer electrolyte is desirable to fabricate miniaturized Mg-air batteries. The biopolymer-ionic liquid polymer electrolyte can achieve both high ionic conductivity and biodegradability.

FoR codes (2008)

0303 MACROMOLECULAR AND MATERIALS CHEMISTRY, 0903 BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, 1007 NANOTECHNOLOGY

Share

COinS
 

Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.