Conductivity and intermolecular interactions in proton‐conducting gel electrolytes

Proton‐conducting gel electrolytes based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF), and mixtures of PMMA with PVdF or poly(vinyl chloride) doped by acid solutions in aprotic solvents were synthesized and are discussed in this article. The gel conductivity as a function of the concentrations of acid and polymer and the polymeric matrix composition has been analyzed. Extreme dependence of the conductivity on acid and polymer concentrations was found. It was revealed that within the acid concentration range studied, the gel conductivity was higher than the conductivity of the corresponding liquid electrolytes used for the synthesis. The increase in the electrical conductivity with the growth of the systems viscosity is discussed as an indication of a certain involvement of the polymer matrix in the increase of the charge carrier mobility within the frame of a Grotthuss mechanism. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40674.     

Effect of PBMA on PVC‐based polymer blend electrolytes

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)—poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) blended polymer electrolytes with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as the complexing salts are prepared by solution casting technique. The addition of PBMA into PVC matrix is found to induce considerable changes in physical and electrical properties of the polymer electrolytes. Addition of PBMA into PVC matrix is found to increase the conductivity by two orders of magnitude (1.108 × 10^?5 S cm^?1) when compared with that of the pristine PVC polymer electrolyte (10^?7 S cm^?1). Structural, thermal, mechanical, morphological, and polymer–salt interactions are ascertained from X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) respectively. A thermal stability upto 250 °C is asserted from the TG/DTA analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44939.     

Zwitterionic‐polymer‐functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol‐co‐ethylene) nanofiber membrane for resistance to the adsorption of bacteria and protein

A zwitterionic poly(vinyl alcohol‐co‐ethylene) (PVA‐co‐PE) nanofiber membrane for resistance to bacteria and protein adsorption was fabricated by the atom transfer radical polymerization of sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA). The PVA‐co‐PE nanofiber membrane was first surface‐activated by α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide, and then, zwitterionic SBMA was initiated to polymerize onto the surface of nanofiber membrane. The chemical structures of the functionalized PVA‐co‐PE nanofiber membranes were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphologies of the PVA‐co‐PE nanofiber membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) was successfully grafted onto the PVA‐co‐PE nanofiber membrane, and the surface of the nanofiber membrane was more hydrophilic than that of the pristine membrane. Furthermore, the antibacterial adsorption properties and resistance to protein adsorption of the surface were investigated. This indicated that the PSBMA‐functionalized surface possessed good antibacterial adsorption activity and resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption. Therefore, this study afforded a convenient and promising method for preparing a new kind of soft and nonwoven dressing material with antibacterial adsorption and antifouling properties that has potential use in the medical field. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44169.     

Preparation of conducting nylon‐6 electrospun fiber webs by the in situ polymerization of polyaniline

For the preparation of conducting polyaniline (PANI)/nylon composites with high electrical conductivity as well as superior mechanical properties such as flexibility and lightness, PANI/nylon‐6 composite nanofiber webs were prepared via the electrospinning process with a nylon‐6/formic acid polymer solution, and then PANI on the surface of the nylon‐6 electrospun nanofiber webs was chemically polymerized. The electrical conductivity measurements showed that the conductivity of the PANI/nylon‐6 composite electrospun fiber webs was superior to that of PANI/nylon‐6 plain‐weave fabrics because of the high surface‐area/volume ratios. On the other hand, the volume conductivities of the PANI/nylon‐6 composite electrospun fiber webs increased from 0.5 to 1.5 S/cm as the diffusion time increased from 10 min to 4 h because of the even distribution of PANI in the electrospun fiber webs. However, the surface conductivities of the PANI/nylon‐6 composite electrospun fiber webs somewhat decreased from 0.22 to 0.14 S/cm as the diffusion time increased because of PANI contaminated with aniline monomers, aniline oligomers, and some alkyl chains, which served as electrical resistants. These results were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and morphology analysis. It was concluded that the diffusion time for the in situ polymerization of PANI in electrospun fiber webs was optimized at approximately 3 h. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 983–991, 2005     

Poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate)/Ag composite microspheres: One‐pot fabrication and application as catalyst

Waxberry‐like poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate)/Ag composite microspheres have been prepared simply and directly via a one‐step self‐assembly approach. The morphology, formation, and catalytic activity of the as‐prepared composite microspheres are further investigated. The difference in the solubility among different segments of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate) is the basis of the formation of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate) microspheres, while the ? CN groups on the surface of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate) microspheres play an important role in the growth process from poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate) microsphere to poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐vinyl acetate)/Ag composite microsphere. It is found that bulk quantities of composite microspheres with high density of Ag nanoparticles on the surface can be obtained readily by controlling the concentration of AgNO₃. The as‐prepared composite microsphere exhibits excellent catalytic activity on reduction of p‐nitrophenol. This study may shed some light on the self‐assembly of other metal/polymer composite microspheres. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1767–1772, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Studies of solvent effect on the conductivity of 2‐mercaptopyridine‐doped solid polymer blend electrolytes and its application in dye‐sensitized solar cells

Solvents and electrolytes play an important role in the fabrication of dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). We have studied the poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(methyl methacrylate)‐KI‐I₂ (PEO‐PMMA‐KI‐I₂) polymer blend electrolytes prepared with different wt % of the 2‐mercaptopyridine by solution casting method. The polymer electrolyte films were characterized by the FTIR, X‐ray diffraction, electrochemical impedance and dielectric studies. FTIR spectra revealed complex formation between the PEO‐PMMA‐KI‐I₂ and 2‐mercaptopyrindine. Ionic conductivity data revealed that 30% 2‐mercaptopyridine‐doped PEO‐PMMA‐KI‐I₂ electrolyte can show higher conductivity (1.55 × 10^?5 S cm^?1) than the other compositions (20, 40, and 50%). The effect of solvent on the conductivity and dielectric of solid polymer electrolytes was studied for the best composition (30% 2‐mercaptopyridine‐doped PEO‐PMMA‐KI‐I₂) electrolyte using various organic solvents such as acetonitrile, N,N‐dimethylformamide, 2‐butanone, chlorobenzene, dimethylsulfoxide, and isopropanol. We found that ac‐conductivity and dielectric constant are higher for the polymer electrolytes processed from N,N‐dimethylformamide. This observation revealed that the conductivity of the solid polymer electrolytes is dependent on the solvent used for processing and the dielectric constant of the film. The photo‐conversion efficiency of dye‐sensitized solar cells fabricated using the optimized polymer electrolytes was 3.0% under an illumination of 100 mW cm^?2. The study suggests that N,N‐dimethylformamide is a good solvent for the polymer electrolyte processing due to higher ac‐conductivity beneficial for the electrochemical device applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42489.     

Ionic conductivity and dielectric behavior of novel poly(vinyl formal)‐based single‐ion‐conductor polymer electrolytes

Novel single‐ion‐conductor polymer (SCP) electrolytes based on oxalate‐chelated‐borate‐structure‐grafted poly(vinyl formal) (PVFM) were synthesized via a solution casting technique. The influence of the molar ratio of ? OH and boron atoms in PVFM on the ionic conductivity (σ) of the SCP electrolytes at different temperatures was investigated with alternating‐current impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range of 0.01 Hz to 1 MHz. The results show that σ of the SCP electrolytes at 15–60 °C was about 10^?6–10^?5 S/cm, and temperature dependence of the conductivity of the electrolytes followed the Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher relationship. The dielectric behaviors of the SCP electrolytes were analyzed in view of the dielectric permittivity and dielectric modulus of the electrolytes. Dielectric analysis revealed that the transport of Li⁺ ions in the PVFM‐based SCP electrolytes mainly followed a hopping mechanism coupled with the segmental motion of the polymer chain. Additionally, a dielectric relaxation was found in the high‐frequency region; this was a thermally activated result and also implied the appearance of carrier hopping. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43510.     

Polymer gel electrolytes prepared from P(EG‐co‐PG) and their nanocomposites using organically modified montmorillonite

Polymer gel electrolytes were prepared by thermal crosslinking reaction of a series of acrylic end‐capped poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(propylene glycol) [P(EG‐co‐PG)] having various geometries and molecular weights. Acrylic end‐capped prepolymers were prepared by the esterification of low molecular weight (M_n: 1900–5000) P(EG‐co‐PG) with acrylic acid. The linear increase in the ionic conductivity of polymer gel electrolyte films was observed with increasing temperature. The increase in the conductivity was also monitored by increasing the molecular weight of precursor polymer. Nanocomposite electrolytes were prepared by the addition of 5 wt % of organically modified layered silicate (montmorillonite) into the gel polymer electrolytes. The enhancement of the ionic conductivity as well as mechanical properties was observed in the nanocomposite systems. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 894–899, 2004     

Novel core‐sheath antimicrobial nanofibrous mats

The poor mechanical properties of electrospun materials remain one of the major hindrances toward their practical application. In this study, we report the synthesis of core‐sheath nanofibrous mats to enhance the mechanical properties of an antimicrobial polymer nanofiber for application in filter media. This objective was achieved via coaxial electrospinning of poly[styrene‐co‐N‐(N′,N′‐dimethyl‐3‐aminopropyl)maleimide] as the sheath which is an antimicrobial polymer and nylon 6 polymer for the core which is well reported for exceptional mechanical properties. Extensive characterization of these fibers was performed using scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, confocal fluorescence microscopy as well as attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform spectroscopy to provide evidence of the core‐sheath morphology. Antimicrobial evaluation was also carried out on the fabricated fibers via the live/dead fluorescence technique. This was done to determine if the poly[styrene‐co‐N‐(N′,N′‐dimethyl‐3‐aminopropyl)maleimide] retained its antimicrobial activity. The fibers were found to be effective against the Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25925) and Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853). Subsequent tensile testing and filtration experiments provided evidence that the incorporation of the nylon core improved mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46303.     

In situ thermal polymerization of an ionic liquid monomer for quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells

In situ thermal polymerization of a model ionic liquid monomer and ionic liquids mixture to form gel electrolytes is developed for quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells (Q‐DSSCs). The chemical structures and thermal property of the monomers and polymer are investigated in detail. The effect of iodine concentration on the conductivity and triiodide diffusion of the gel electrolytes is also investigated in detail. The conductivity and triiodide diffusion of the gel electrolytes increase with the increasing I₂ concentration, while excessive I₂ contents will decrease the electrical performances. Based on the in situ thermal polymeric gel electrolytes for Q‐DSSCs, highest power conversion efficiency of 5.01% has been obtained. The superior long‐term stability of fabricated DSSCs indicates that the cells based on in situ thermal polymeric gel electrolytes can overcome the drawbacks of the volatile liquid electrolyte. These results offer us a feasible method to explore new gel electrolytes for high‐performance Q‐DSSCs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42802.     

Bifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) based crosslinked network polymers as electrolytes for all‐solid‐state lithium ion batteries

Polymer electrolyte based lithium ion batteries represent a revolution in the battery community due to their intrinsic enhanced safety, and as a result polymer electrolytes have been proposed as a replacement for conventional liquid electrolytes. Herein, the preparation of a family of crosslinked network polymers as electrolytes via the ‘click‐chemistry’ technique involving thiol‐ene or thiol‐epoxy is reported. These network polymer electrolytes comprise bifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) as the lithium ion solvating polymer, pentaerythritol tetrakis (3‐mercaptopropionate) as the crosslinker and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide as the lithium salt. The crosslinked network polymer electrolytes obtained show low T_g, high ionic conductivity and a good lithium ion transference number (ca 0.56). In addition, the membrane demonstrated sterling mechanical robustness and high thermal stability. The advantages of the network polymer electrolytes in this study are their harmonious characteristics as solid electrolytes and the potential adaptability to improve performance by combining with inorganic fillers, ionic liquids or other materials. In addition, the simple formation of the network structures without high temperatures or light irradiation has enabled the practical large‐area fabrication and in situ fabrication on cathode electrodes. As a preliminary study, the prepared crosslinked network polymer materials were used as solid electrolytes in the elaboration of all‐solid‐state lithium metal battery prototypes with moderate charge–discharge profiles at different current densities leaving a good platform for further improvement. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Application of polymer gel electrolyte with graphite powder in quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells

A polymer gel electrolyte with ionic conductivity of 5.11 mS cm⁻¹ was prepared by using poly (acrylonitrile‐co‐styrene) as polymer matrix, acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran as binary organic mixture solvent, NaI + I₂ as electrolyte, graphite powder and 1‐methylimidazole as additives. The components ratio of the polymer gel electrolyte was optimized, and the influence of the components and temperature on the ionic conductivity of the polymer gel electrolyte and photoelectronic properties of dye sensitized solar cell were investigated. On the basis of the polymer gel electrolyte with the optimized conditions, a quasi‐solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cell was fabricated and its light‐ to‐electricity energy conversion efficiency of 3.25% was achieved under irradiation of 100 mW cm⁻². POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Electrospun poly(lithium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid) fiber‐based polymer electrolytes for lithium‐ion batteries

Novel single‐ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on electrospun poly(lithium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PAMPSLi) membranes were prepared for lithium‐ion batteries. The preparation started with the synthesis of polymeric lithium salt PAMPSLi by free‐radical polymerization of 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid, followed by ion‐exchange of H⁺ with Li⁺. Then, the electrospun PAMPSLi membranes were prepared by electrospinning technology, and the resultant PAMPSLi fiber‐based polymer electrolytes were fabricated by immersing the electrospun membranes into a plasticizer composed of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate. PAMPSLi exhibited high thermal stability and its decomposition did not occur until 304°C. The specific surface area of the electrospun PAMPSLi membranes was raised from 9.9 m²/g to 19.5 m²/g by varying the solvent composition of polymer solutions. The ionic conductivity of the resultant PAMPSLi fiber‐based polymer electrolytes at 20°C increased from 0.815 × 10^?5 S/cm to 2.12 × 10^?5 S/cm with the increase of the specific surface area. The polymer electrolytes exhibited good dimensional stability and electrochemical stability up to 4.4 V vs. Li⁺/Li. These results show that the PAMPSLi fiber‐based polymer electrolytes are promising materials for lithium‐ion batteries. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Mechanical reinforcement of electrospun water‐soluble polymer nanofibers using nanodiamonds

Optimization of the mechanical properties is necessary in the applications of electrospun nanofibrous matrices. In this work, mechanical reinforcement of electrospun nanofiber membranes of water‐soluble polymer by the incorporation of commercial nanodiamonds (NDs) was studied. Through an ND/poly(vinyl alcohol) (ND/PVA) model system, it is demonstrated that 155% improvement of Young's modulus, 89% increase in tensile strength, and 336% elevation in energy to break are achieved by the addition of only 2 wt% ND. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results suggest the existence of molecular interactions between NDs and PVA matrix, which contributes to the effective load transfer from the polymer matrix to the fillers. However, higher level of ND addition (>2 wt%) aggravates the agglomeration of nanofillers in PVA matrix and offsets the reinforcing effect, as ND agglomerates may act as flaws in composite nanofibers. Furthermore, NDs have optimizing effect on the morphology of ND/PVA nanofibers through increasing the conductivity of the electrospinning solution. Therefore, ND nanofillers possess the potential to improve the mechanical performance of water‐soluble polymer‐based nanofiber membranes. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1735–1744, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Ionic liquid‐modified graphene/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite with enhanced properties

How to preserve the structure integrity of graphene while enhance its dispersion and compatibility in matrix attracts the attention of researchers in graphene/polymer nanocomposite field. In this paper, methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC), a kind of ionic liquids, was first used to non‐covalently functionalize graphene in the process of graphene oxide (GO) reduction. The as‐modified graphene (DMC‐rGO) was further incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix by solution casting technique to fabricate DMC‐rGO/PVA composites. The structure and properties of the obtained DMC‐rGO were investigated by X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman test. The results showed that graphene could be successfully modified by DMC through ionic–π interaction and the structure integrity of the graphene could be reserved by this non‐covalently approach. Furthermore, after co‐reduction process, some hydroxyl groups were introduced into DMC‐rGO. In virtue of these intrinsic properties of DMC‐rGO, the fabricated DMC‐rGO/PVA composites exhibit considerable enhancements in mechanical properties and remarkable improvements in thermal stability, as well as the enhancement in electrical conductivity at low DMC‐rGO loading. This simple modification approach gives a new opportunity to improve the performances of graphene/polymer composites. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45006.     

Preparation and characterization of electrospun poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanofiber composites containing silver particles

A nanofiber membrane composed of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), and silver nanoparticles was prepared via electrospinning technique. The morphology and structure of the PCL/PVP/Ag nanofibers composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The SEM images showed that various composites of PCL/PVP/Ag could be electrospun to yield continuous and uniform nanofibers. FTIR spectra indicated that the molecular interactions between PCL and PVP are weak. The hydrophilicity, mechanical property, and swelling behavior of the as‐spun composites can be manipulated by altering the blend ratio of PCL/PVP. XRD patterns and XPS spectra showed that the Ag nanoparticles were dispersed in the PCL/PVP nanofiber composites; and the Ag nanoparticles endowed the PCL/PVP/Ag composite with antibacterial activities. The obtained PCL/PVP/Ag nanofiber composites with the morphology similar to that of native extracellular matrix have the potential to create a moist environment and to kill bacteria, which make it possible to be used for wound dressing application. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2847–2854, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate) low‐profile additives on properties of cured unsaturated polyester resins. II. glass‐transition temperatures and mechanical properties

Three series of self‐synthesized poly(vinyl acetate)‐based low‐profile additives (LPAs), including poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate), and poly(vinyl chloride‐co‐vinyl acetate‐co‐maleic anhydride), with different chemical structures and molecular weights were studied. Their effects on the glass‐transition temperatures and mechanical properties for thermoset polymer blends made from styrene, unsaturated polyester, and LPAs were investigated by an integrated approach of the static phase characteristics, cured sample morphology, reaction kinetics, and property measurements. Based on Takayanagi mechanical models, the factors that control the glass‐transition temperature in each phase region of the cured samples and the mechanical properties are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3347–3357, 2003     

Electrical actuation of ionic hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol grafted with poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid‐co‐acrylonitrile) chains

Novel electrically conducting composite materials consisting of poly(pyrrole) (PPy) nanoparticles dispersed in a poly(vinyl alcohol)‐g‐poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid‐co‐acrylonitrile) hydrogels were prepared within the polymer matrix by in situ polymerization of pyrrole. The conversion yield of pyrrole into PPy particles was determined gravimetrically while structural confirmation of the synthesized polymer was sought by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and UV‐visible spectroscopy. The morphology of PPy nanoparticles containing hydrogel matrix was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. Electrical conductivity of nanocomposite hydrogels of different compositions was determined by LCR meter while electroactive behavior of nanocomposite hydrogels swollen in electrolyte solutions was investigated by effective bend angle measurements. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation of monodispersed ZrO2 nanoparticles and their applications in poly[(vinylidene fluoride)‐co‐hexafluoropropylene]‐based composite polymer electrolytes

To improve the electrochemical performance of pure poly[(vinylidene fluoride)‐co‐hexafluoropropylene] (P(VDF‐HFP))‐based gel polymer electrolytes, different amounts of monodispersed ZrO₂ nanoparticles were introduced to fabricate P(VDF‐HFP)/ZrO₂ composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) using the phase inversion method and activated processes, in which the monodispersed ZrO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by an easy route without any chelating agents or surfactants, and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, particle size distribution measurement and X‐ray diffraction. The characterization results show that the as‐fabricated CPE membranes present not only an abundant porous structure, but also an improved mechanical strength. In particular, sample CPE‐5 presents the best properties when the doped content of the monodispersed ZrO₂ nanoparticles reaches 5 wt% in the polymer matrix, in which the liquid uptake and ionic conductivity at room temperature are about 192.4% and 3.926 mS cm^?1, and the electrochemical working window and thermal decomposition temperature can increase to 5.1 V and 420 °C, respectively. Moreover, an assembled LiCoO₂/CPE‐5/Li coin cell can deliver excellent rate and cycling performance, in which the discharge specific capacity of the cell can show about 83.95% capacity retention at 2.0 C after 85 cycles. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fabrication and characterization of PEO/PPC polymer electrolyte for lithium‐ion battery

A new poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO/PPC) polymer electrolytes (PEs) have been developed by solution‐casting technique using biodegradable PPC and PEO. The morphology, structure, and thermal properties of the PEO/PPC polymer electrolytes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry methods. The ionic conductivity and the electrochemical stability window of the PEO/PPC polymer electrolytes were also measured. The results showed that the T_g and the crystallinity of PEO decrease, and consequently, the ionic conductivity increases because of the addition of amorphous PPC. The PEO/50%PPC/10%LiClO₄ polymer electrolyte possesses good properties such as 6.83 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 of ionic conductivity at room temperature and 4.5 V of the electrochemical stability window. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010