Conductivity Behaviour of Nanocomposite Polymer Electrolytes: Role of Fumed Silica and Plasticizer

Abstract

AbstractPolymer electrolytes obtained by the complexation of ammonium bifluoride (NH4HF2) with polyethylene oxide (PEO) have been studied. The addition of propylene carbonate (PC) results in conductivity enhancement by two orders of magnitude and shows conductivity of 1.4 × 10−4 S/cm at 25 °C, whereas the addition of fumed silica results in conductivity enhancement and show conductivity of 1.19 × 10−5 S/cm at 25 °C. However simultaneous addition of plasticizer (PC) and fumed silica to polymer electrolytes has been found to result in higher conductivity of 1.55 × 10−4 S/cm at 25 °C alongwith better mechanical properties. The complexation of NH4HF2 with PEO, formation of ion aggregates and their dissociation with the addition of PC has also been studied by FTIR.