Investigations on materials and ion transport properties of Zn2+ conducting nano-composite polymer electrolytes (NCPEs): [(90 PEO: 10 Zn(CF3SO3)2)+ x ZnO

Abstract

Zn2+ conducting 2-phase Nano-Composite Polymer Electrolyte (NCPE) membranes: [(90PEO:10Zn(CF3SO3)2)+ x ZnO] have been hot-press synthesized. Solid Polymer Electrolyte (SPE) composition: [90PEO:10Zn(CF3SO3)2], identified earlier as highest conducting film with room temperature conductivity (σrt)∼ 1.09×10−6S/cm, has been used as Ist–phase host and ZnO (active) nano-particles as IInd–phase dispersoid. Filler particle concentration dependent conductivity measurement revealed Optimum Conducting Composition (OCC): [(90PEO:10Zn(CF3SO3)2)+5 ZnO] with σrt∼ 1.84×10−5S/cm. Dispersal of filler results σ-enhancement of one order. Materials property of NCPE OCC has been studied by SEM, XRD, FTIR and thermal property by DSC/TGA. Ion transport property i.e. ionic conductivity (s) and total ionic (tion)/cation (t+) transport number have been measured using different ac/dc techniques. Temperature dependent s-measurement has been done to compute activation energy (Ea) by least square linear fitting of ‘log σ - 1/T’Arrhenius plot. All-Solid-State battery has been fabricated to study cell performance under varying load conditions.