Study on plasticized Poly (vinylidene chloride- co- acrylonitrile) polymer electrolytes for battery applications

Abstract

Plasticized Poly (vinylidene chloride- co- acrylonitrile) [P(VdC-co-AN)] polymer electrolytes comprising of Lithium Perchloride (LiClO4) as complexing salt and plasticizers such as Propylene carbonate (PC) and β-butyrolactone (βbl) is prepared by solution casting technique. Polymer electrolytes were prepared in the ratio [(x)PVdC-co-PAN+(100-x-z) Plasticizer+(z) LiClO4] and were subjected to various characterizations. X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were carried out to study the structural and functional groups present in the material. Impedance spectroscopy to find the ionic conductivity of the material. The maximum ionic conductivity at room temperature was exhibited by the samples containing 68% PC (9.237 × 10−4 S cm−1) and 66% of βbl (2.284 × 10−4 S cm−1). Samples exhibiting higher ionic conductivity (68% PC and 66% of βbl) are subjected to Linear sweep voltammetry and transference number measurements. The electrochemical stability is 4.5 v for the both films, whereas transference number is 0.955 and 0.94, respectively. Thermogravimetry/Differential Thermal analysis (TG/DTA) shows the prepared films doesn’t not undergo any weight loss till 220 °C (thermally stable). The surface morphology of the polymer membrane was explored through Atomic force microscopy (AFM).