Lithium Ion-conducting Blend Polymer Electrolyte Based on PVA–PAN Doped with Lithium Nitrate

A new blend polymer electrolyte based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacrylonitrile doped with lithium nitrate (LiNO₃) has been prepared and characterized. The complexation of blend polymer (92.5 PVA:7.5 PAN) with LiNO₃ has been studied using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms show a decrease in glass transition temperature with the addition of salt. The maximum ionic conductivity of the blend polymer electrolyte is 1.5 × 10^?3 Scm^?1 for 15 wt% LiNO₃ doped–92.5 PVA:7.5 PAN electrolyte. The conductivity values obey Arrhenius equation. Ionic transference number measurement reveals that the conducting species are predominantly ions.