α‐Al2O3 improves the properties of gel polyacrylonitrile nanocomposite electrolytes used as electrolyte materials in rechargeable lithium batteries |
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Authors: | Jiunn‐Jer Hwang Hsueh‐Hsin Peng Jui‐Ming Yeh |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Army Academy, Chung‐Li, Taiwan, Republic of China;2. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Vanung University, Chung‐Li, Taiwan, Republic of China;3. Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanotechnology at CYCU and R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung‐Yuan Christian University, Chung‐Li, Taiwan, Republic of China |
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Abstract: | In this investigation, a series of gel polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/α‐Al2O3 nanocomposite electrolyte materials that incorporate various fractions of PAN, α‐Al2O3 inorganic powders, propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate as cosolvents, and LiClO4 were prepared. X‐ray diffraction revealed that the gel nanocomposite electrolyte materials contained amorphous PAN in which was uniformly dispersed α‐Al2O3. The gel PAN/α‐Al2O3 nanocomposite electrolytes had lower glass‐transition temperatures (as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis) and higher conductivity than a similar electrolyte prepared in the absence of α‐Al2O3. The conductivity of the PAN/α‐Al2O3 nanocomposite films was inversely proportional to the size of the α‐Al2O3 particles and directly proportional to (I) the amount of α‐Al2O3 (up to 7 wt %), (II) the F value LiClO4/CH2CH(CN) ratio], and (III) the amount of plasticizer (propylene carbonate/ethylene carbonate = 1 : 1). Cyclic voltammetry revealed that adding α‐Al2O3 significantly increased the electrochemical stability of the composite electrolyte system. A rechargeable lithium battery prepared using this gel nanocomposite electrolyte system exhibited good cyclability and a stable capacity. The coulombic efficiency for the recharge/discharge process was approximately 75%, even after 100 cycles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011 |
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Keywords: | gel electrolyte aluminum oxide polynitrile rechargeable lithium battery conductivity |
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