Preparation and electrochemical behaviors of polymeric composite electrolytes containing mesoporous silicate fillers

In the present study, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymeric composite electrolytes (PCEs) had been prepared by using a different content of mesoporous silicate MCM-41, in order to examine the filler addition effect on the microstructural and electrochemical properties. The interactions between MCM-41 and PEO matrix were studied by XRD, DSC, and SEM techniques. The electrochemical properties of the PCEs, such as ionic conductivity, its temperature dependence, and lithium transference number were investigated. MCM-41 could maintain the pore structure effectively, resulting in nanocomposites that were homogeneously complexed with the PEO chains. The PCEs with 8 wt.% MCM-41 showed the smallest crystallinity, 30.4%. Accordingly, those PCEs showed the highest ion conductivity, 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm, a two-order-of-magnitude higher value than that of the pristine PEO-LiClO₄. This might have reflected decreased crystallinity and improved ion transport. Furthermore, those PCEs showed an increased Li ion transference number of ∼0.5. In conclusion, the filler addition could enhance the ionic conductivity and increase the Li ion transference number at the same time.