Conductivity behaviour of polymer gel electrolytes: Role of polymer

Polymer is an important constituent of polymer gel electrolytes along with salt and solvent. The salt provides ions for conduction and the solvent helps in the dissolution of the salt and also provides the medium for ion conduction. Although the polymer added provides mechanical stability to the electrolytes yet its effect on the conductivity behaviour of gel electrolytes as well as the interaction of polymer with salt and solvent has not been conclusively established. The conductivity of lithium ion conducting polymer gel electrolytes decreases with the addition of polymer whereas in the case of proton conducting polymer gel electrolytes an increase in conductivity has been observed with polymer addition. This has been explained to be due to the role of polymer in increasing viscosity and carrier concentration in these gel electrolytes.