Dual-phase polymer electrolyte with enhanced phase compatibility based on Poly(MMA-g-PVC)/PMMA

A new plasticized dual-phase polymer electrolyte (DPE) with enhanced phase compatibility based on Poly(MMA-g-PVC)/PMMA blends has been studied. For the DPE, PMMA is selectively impregnated with the lithium salt solution forming an ion-conducting network, while Poly(MMA-g-PVC) produces good mechanical strength. Their chemical characters, thermal behavior, morphology, ionic conductivity and interfacial compatibility with lithium metal electrode were characterized by using of infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopic images, alternating current impedance (AC impedance) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), respectively. The ionic conductivity of DPE increases with the ratio of PMMA/Poly(MMA-g-PVC) (by weight), and the absorbed liquid electrolyte in the polymer blends plays the first important way in this behavior. Room-temperature ionic conductivity of the order of 10−3 S cm−1 has been achieved for DPE, in addition, the DPE also shows good compatibility with Li electrodes and sufficient electrochemical stability for safe operation in Li batteries.