Preparation and characterization of electrospun poly(acrylonitrile) fibrous membrane based gel polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

Electrospun, non-woven membrane of high molecular weight poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) is demonstrated as an efficient host matrix for the preparation of gel polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. Electrospinning process parameters are optimized to get a fibrous membrane of PAN consisting of bead-free, uniformly dispersed thin fibers with diameter in the range 880–1260 nm. The membrane with good mechanical strength and porosity exhibits high uptake when activated with the liquid electrolyte of 1 M LiPF6 in a mixture of organic solvents and the gel polymer electrolyte shows ionic conductivity of 1.7 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 20 °C. Electrochemical performance of the gel polymer electrolyte at 20 °C is evaluated in lithium-ion cell with lithium cobalt oxide cathode and graphite anode. Good performance with a low capacity fading on charge–discharge cycling is demonstrated.

► The use of electrospun, non-woven membrane of high molecular weight poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) as an efficient host matrix for gel polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries is demonstrated. ► Electrospinning process parameters are optimized to get a bead-free fibrous membrane. ► The membrane exhibits with good mechanical strength, porosity and ionic conductivity. ► The membrane is evaluated in lithium-ion cell with lithium cobalt oxide cathode and graphite anode. ► Good performance with a low capacity fading on charge–discharge cycling is demonstrated.