Novel composite polymer electrolytes based on poly(ether-urethane) network polymer and fumed silicas

Abstract

Novel composite solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) and composite gel polymer electrolytes (CGPEs) have been prepared. CSPE consists of poly(ether-urethane) network polymer (PUN), fumed silicas and LiClO4. The ionic conductivity of CSPEs can be enhanced nearly 20 times in comparison with the plain system without the addition of fumed silicas and can be above 1×10−5 S/cm at room temperature. The effects of both kinds of fumed silicas, viz. uSiO2 with hydrophilic groups at the surface and mSiO2 with hydrophobic groups at the surface on ionic conductivity were investigated. CGPE comprising of the CSPE and LiClO4–PC solution with good mechanical strength exhibits ionic conductivity in the order of 10−3 S/cm at room temperature and above 3×10−4 S/cm at low temperature −40 °C.