Effect of nano-sized barium titanate addition on PEO/PVDF blend-based composite polymer electrolytes

In the present study, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) had been prepared by using a different content of nano-sized BaTiO3 filler, in order to examine the filler addition effect on the structural modification and electrochemical properties. The crystallinity and thermal stability of the CPEs was evaluated using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The electrochemical properties of CPEs were measured by the AC impedance method and cyclic voltammetry (CV). As a result, Both DSC and XRD results indicated that the CPE showed reduced crystallinity after the introduction of BaTiO3 filler. From the ionic conductivity results, the CPE containing BaTiO3 filler 15 wt.% showed the highest ionic conductivity (1.2 × 10− 4 S/cm) with a wide electrochemical stability window and an excellent thermal stability at room temperature. This indicated that electrochemical characteristics are dependent on the reduced crystallinity by the addition of nano-sized BaTiO3 filler content.

This figure shows the impedance plots versus nano-sized BaTiO3 contents for the polymer electrolytes at room temperature. It was obvious that the semicircle diameter became smaller with the addition of ceramic filler (nano-sized BaTiO3). As the diameter of semicircle became smaller, ionic conductivity of composite electrolytes had been enhanced by addition of 15 wt.% BaTiO3 filler. However, the conductivity was not greatly changed over 15 wt.% content because the BaTiO3 was sufficiently saturated for the polymer electrolytes.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Polymer blend composite electrolytes were prepared by adding various filler contents of BaTiO3
► Nanosize fillers influenced the structural, morphological, and conducting properties
► The polymer composites with filler showed the higher conductivity than pristine sample
► Improved conductivity was dependent on the dispersion and crystallinity changes due to filler effect.