Effective conductivity of particulate polymer composite electrolytes using random resistor network method

The effective DC conductivity of particulate composite electrolytes was obtained by solving electrostatics equations using random resistors network method in three dimensions. The composite structure was considered to consist of three phases: matrix, particulate filler, and conductive shell that surrounded each particle; each phase possessing a different conductivity. Different particle size distributions were generated using Monte Carlo simulations. Unlike effective medium formulations, it was shown that the random resistors network method was able to predict percolation thresholds for the effective composite conductivity. It was found that the mean particle radius has a higher influence on the effective composite conductivity compared to the effect of type of the particle size distributions that were considered. The effect of the shell thickness on the composite conductivity has been investigated. It was found that the conductivity enhancement due to the presence of the conductive shell phase becomes less evident as the shell thickness increases.

► Generation of composite polymer electrolyte microstructures. ► Computation of DC conductivity via random resistors network method. ► Investigation of percolation behavior. ► Effect of particle size distribution.