Effect of SiO₂ Nano-particles on Plasticized Polymer Blend Electrolytes: Vibrational, Thermal, and Ionic Conductivity Study

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the effect of SiO₂ nano-particles on PVA-PVP-PEG-NaI based polymer blend electrolyte (PBE) films was studied and optimized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ac impedance spectroscopic techniques have been used to study the structural, thermal, and dc conductivity, respectively. XRD results reveal that the characteristic peaks of PVA-PVP-PEG-SiO₂ based nano-composite PBEs appeared at 2θ~22° with broad halo. ATR-FTIR result shows the complexation/interaction of silica nano-particles with the functional groups of PBEs. TGA analysis shows the thermal stability and decomposition temperature peak (T_{d, peak}) of the NCPBEs decrease with SiO₂ content. The prepared NCPBE film having 0.6 wt% SiO₂ shows maximum dc conductivity ~5.13x10⁻⁶ S/cm at 30°C. The ionic transference number measurement was performed by a dc polarization method, and the results reveal that the conducting species are predominately ions only. Linear sweep voltametric and cyclic voltammetric measurements have been done for electrochemical stability window study.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• ATR-FTIR
• nano-composite polymer blend electrolytes
• TGA
• X-ray diffraction

Acknowledgments

The author ALS is grateful to SERB, India for financial assistance through research project EEQ/2018/000862. The author PS is thankful to UGC-India for providing financial assistance as UGC-JRF.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board, India [EEQ/2018/000862].

Notes on contributors

Pankaj Singh

Dr. A. L. Saroj is a researcher and working as assistant professor in Department of Physics, I. Sc., BHU, India. His area of research includes preparation and characterization of polymer/bio-polymer-Ionic liquid based plasticized polymer/polymer blend/nano-composite polymer electrolytes and its application in EC devices.

A. L. Saroj

Pankaj Singh is pursuing his Ph. D in ion conducting polymer lab department of Physics, I. Sc., BHU, India. His area of research includes preparation and characterization of polymer/ polymer blend nano-composite electrolytes. He obtained his Master of Science in Physics from Banaras Hindu University.