Preparation and characterization of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes: (1-x)PEO: xNaBr

Abstract

Preparation and ionic transport characterizations of a new Na⁺ ion conducting hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) (1-x)PEO: xNaBr, where 0 < x < 50 in wt%, have been reported. SPE films have been prepared using a hot-press technique in place of the traditional solution cast method. Two orders of magnitude of the conductivity enhancement achieved in SPE film composition (70PEO:30NaBr) at room temperature. Polymer-salt complexations and thermal behavior of present SPEs have been explained with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), thermogrevimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The Na⁺ ion conduction in the present SPEs has been discussed on the basis of experimental measurements on its ionic conductivity σ, ionic mobility μ and ionic transference number t_ion at room temperature. Temperature dependent ionic conductivity measurement has also been carried out to calculate the activation energy E_a.