Characteristic studies on PEO-based thin nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

• Published in: Ionics Vol. 25; no. 6; pp. 2627 - 2631
• Main Authors: Sheeba, D. Joice, BR, Sivasankaran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.06.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Circuits; Condensed Matter Physics; Conducting polymers; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical cells; Electrochemistry; Electrolytes; Energy Storage; Fourier transforms; Infrared analysis; Ion currents; Magnesium oxide; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Open circuit voltage; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Polyethylenes; Polymers; Renewable and Green Energy; Short circuit currents; Sodium; Thermodynamic properties; X-ray diffraction; Thin films; Composite electrolyte; Ionic conductivities; Thermal analyses
• ISSN: 0947-7047; 1862-0760
• DOI: 10.1007/s11581-018-2799-5

A novel polyethylene oxide (PEO)–based sodium conducting thin nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NPE) is prepared using solution casting technique. The concentration of the salt has been varied and for EO:Na of 40:1, the room temperature electrical conductivity is found to be increased by two orders of magnitude relative to the pure PEO ( σ 298 K  = 2.8 × 10 −9  S cm −1 ). Ionic conductivity and thermal behavior of PEO 40 NaC 12 H 25 SO 4 complex have been investigated with different levels of loading of nano-sized MgO powder whereas the complexation has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Structural, thermal, and morphology results have also clearly demonstrated the reduction of crystallinity of the composite polymer electrolyte by the addition of fine MgO nanoparticles. The nanocomposite polymer electrolyte while employed in the fabrication of electrochemical cell has yielded an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 2.35 V and short-circuit current (SCC) of 412 μA. On incorporation of MgO nanoparticles, it was observed that there is a further enhancement in the conductivity. The room temperature ionic conductivity of PEO–NaC 12 H 25 SO 4 –MgO is relatively high and stable, indicating that it is a promising electrolyte for several thin solid-state energy devices.