Controlled growth of Sb2O5nanoparticles and their use as polymer electrolyte fillers

Abstract

Antimony pentoxide nanocrystals with controlled sizes (4–400 nm) and shapes (spheres, sheets and cubes) have been synthesized hydrothermally. The growth process of the crystals observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) obeys Ostwald ripening theory. Upon annealing, the composites of the Sb2O5 nanoparticles with PEO–LiClO4 polymer electrolyte exhibit significantly enhanced ionic conductivities and these enhanced conductivities have long-term stability at ambient temperature. The conductivity variation after special thermal treatment and the impedance evolution with time of the PEO–Sb2O5–LiClO4 films have direct relationships with the sizes and shapes of the Sb2O5 fillers. Such performance of the composite solid polymer electrolytes can be interpreted by dipole–dipole interactions between the PEO macromolecules, lithium salt and the Sb2O5 dopants.