Performance of ferrite fillers on electrical behavior of polymer nanocomposite electrolyte

Abstract

Dispersal of nanofillers in polymer electrolytes have shown to improve the ionic properties of Polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes in recent times. The effects of different nanoferrite fillers (i.e., Al–Zn ferrite, Mg–Zn ferrite, and Zn ferrite) on the electrical transport properties have been studied here on the composite polymer electrolyte system. The interaction of salt/filler with electrolyte has been investigated by XRD studies. SEM image and infrared spectral studies give an indication of nanocomposite formation. In conductivity studies, all electrolyte systems are seen to follow universal power law. Composition dependence (with ferrite filler) gives the maximum conductivity in [93PEO–7NH₄SCN]: X ferrite (where X = 2% in Al–Zn ferrite, 1% Mg–Zn ferrite, and 1% Zn ferrite) system.

Keywords:

• proton conductor
• polymer nanocomposite electrolytes
• polymer composite electrolyte
• PEO
• ferrite filler

Acknowledgments

The authors (KP and MKS) are grateful to BRNS, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India for the financial support (no. 2009/34/25/BNRS) for this study.