Understanding uptake kinetics and ion dynamics in microporous polymer gel electrolytes reinforced with SiO2 nanofibers

Abstract

In the present study kinetics of electrolyte uptake by microporous polymer gel electrolyte (MPGEs) comprising PMMA polymer and various concentrations of SiO2 nanofibers has been reported. Dispersion of nanofibers in PMMA results in high porosity and less tortuosity in the composite membranes. Immobilization of 1 M LiClO4 in ethylene carbonate (EC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC) in the membranes result a high electrolyte uptake of 280. The optimum electrochemical properties have been observed with 5 wt% nanofibers, which show the maximum ionic conductivity of 8.4 × 10−3 Scm−1 at room temperature. The kinetic study of electrolyte uptake determines the regression coefficient (R2) for the various mathematical models. This regression coefficient analysis suggested that the uptake mechanism displayed by the nanocompoites is best fitted to the power law model. According to the power law analysis, the diffusion coefficients have been determined, which results a suitable corelation with the electrochemical studies of MPGEs.