Enhancement of Electrical Conductivity and Ion Transport in Plasticized Polymer Blend Electrolytes (PEO/PEMA) by Addition of Nanoscale Inorganic Oxides

Abstract

The frequency dependant conductivity behaviour of a plasticized polymer nanocomposite electrolytes based on polyethylene oxide + poly(ethyl methacrylate) + NaIO₄ with zinc oxide as the filler and poly(ethylene glycol) as the plasticizer have been studied. The formation of nanocomposites and changes in the structural properties of the materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrical conductivity of pure and nano composite polymer blend films were studied in the temperature range 303-373 K. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing nanoparticle concentration and exhibited Arrhenius type dependent with temperature. The increase in conductivity with dopant concentration may be attributed to the formation of charge transfer complexes. Transport number data showed that the charge transport in this electrolyte system is predominately due to ions.