Effect of carbon nanotubes as dispersoid in polymer electrolyte matrix

Abstract

The present work deals with the characterization of a thin film polymer electrolyte based on poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) doped with ammonium iodide (NH4I) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) as dispersoid to develop nanocomposite polymer electrolyte films using solution cast method. Carbon nanotubes were incorporated in PVP:NH4I matrix in different concentration. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique was used for characterizing the polymer electrolyte system. 0.4 wt% MCNT containing system shows maximum conductivity (8.23 × 10−2 S/cm). The temperature dependent conductivity studies reveal the Arrhenius behavior. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows the decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) from 345 (60:40 PVP:NH4I) to 339 K (60:40 + 0.4 wt% PVP:NH4I + CNT). Dielectric phenomenon, concentration of charge carrier density (N) and dissociation factor also supports the conductivity data while ionic transference number (tion) studies confirms the ionic conductive nature of the electrolyte system.