Electrochemical investigations of PVdF-HFP-NaTFSI-[BMPYr][TFSI] polymer-salt-IL electrolyte for Na-rechargeable battery

Abstract

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are being aggressively pursued for potential use in energy storage systems due to the natural abundance and low cost of sodium. In the present investigation, structural, thermal and electrochemical properties of a ionic liquid based Na-ion conducting polymer-salt-IL electrolytes (IL-NCPEs) formed using copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) salt along with IL; 1-butyl-1-methypyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([BMPYr] [TFSI]) is being reported. The samples were characterized using ionic conductivity, transference number measurement, thermal & electrochemical studies as a function of wt% IL. Incorporated [BMPYr][TFSI]-IL in the NCPE (i.e., PVdF-HFP + 10 wt% NaTFSI) modifies the different physicochemical properties such as complex formation, thermal, transport and electrochemical properties. The ionic conductivity of prepared IL-NCPEs has been found to increase with increasing the content of [BMPYr][TFSI]-IL and reaches to a maximum value of ∼0.85 mS/cm (at 30 °C). Also, the temperature dependent ionic conductivity obeys Arrhenius type thermally activated behaviour. For the optimized [BMPYr][TFSI]-IL, compatibility of IL-NCPEs with Na-metal electrode, high total ionic transference number (tionic ∼ 0.98), cationic transference number (tNa+ ∼ 0.31) and wide electrochemical stability (ESW ∼ 4.0 V) have been obtained. The above obtained properties of the prepared IL-NCPEs are promising for application in Na-rechargeable battery.