Study of a new polymer electrolyte poly(ethylene oxide): NaClO3 with several plasticizers for battery application

Sodium ion conducting thin film polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) complexed with NaClO₃ were prepared by a solution‐casting method. Characterization by XRD, IR spectroscopy and AC conductivity has been carried out on these thin film electrolytes to analyse their properties. The conductivity studies show that the conductivity value of PEO:NaClO₃ complex increases with the increase in salt concentrations. Increase in conductivity was found in the electrolyte system by the addition of low molecular weight polymer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and the organic solvents dimethylformamide (DMF) and propylene carbonate (PC). Using these electrolyte systems, cell parameters were measured from the discharge study with the application of load 100 kΩ at room temperature with common cell configuration Na|electrolyte|C:I₂:electrolyte. The open circuit voltage (OCV) ranges from 2.81 to 3.23 V and the short circuit current (SCC) ranges from 340 to 1180 µA. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry