Nanofiller-Induced Ionic Conductivity Enhancement and Relaxation Property Analysis of the Blend Polymer Electrolyte Using Non-Debye Electric Field Relaxation Function

Abstract

The enhancement of conductivity of a composite polymer as a dielectric material is an essential requirement for electrostatic storage devices. We have modified the microstructure of the polymer matrix by introducing an insulating nanofiller SiO2. The effect of such a filler on the ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolyte has been investigated using a variety of experimental techniques along with the non-Debye type of relaxation functions. We have achieved optimum conductivity enhancement at a threshold filler concentration of 0.7 wt % in the blend polymer matrix composed of poly­(ethylene oxide), poly­(vinylidene fluoride) (80:20), and salt NH4 I (35 wt %). Such an enhancement of conductivity is a result of formation of a highly conducting interphase region around the nanofiller surface. The mobility of the conducting species is found to increase enormously in the presence of a filler. As a consequence, the ionic conductivity of the filler-induced blend polymer electrolyte increases 3 times of its magnitude (3.02 × 10–3 S/cm) compared to that without a filler. The occurrence of two different activation energies which decrease with increasing filler concentrations, as determined from temperature-dependent conductivity, has been well explained from the dynamics of free and contact ions. A non-Debye behavior of relaxation properties has been analyzed using a newly approached one-parameter Mittag-Leffler function. The experimental decay function fits very well using the Mittag-Leffler function as compared to the conventional non-Debye Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts function used in the literature.

Ion Transport Study in CS: POZ Based Polymer Membrane Electrolytes Using Trukhan Model

“…Moreover, Arya and Sharma [83] reported ion mobility ( μ ) in the range 10 −10 to 10 −12 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . More recently, Patla et al [84] have also documented ion mobility ( μ ) in the range 1.8 × 10 −4 to 9.5 × 10 −11 cm 2 V −1 s −1 for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based polymer nano-composites incorporated with ammonium iodide (NH 4 I) salt. From the results of the present work, it is clear that ion transport parameters can be easily estimated from the Trukhan model.…”

Employing of Trukhan Model to Estimate Ion Transport Parameters in PVA Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte

“…On the other hand, Arya and Sharma [83], documented the ion mobility (μ) in the range 10 −10 to 10 −12 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Recently, Patla et al [91] reported the ion mobility (μ) in the range 1.8 × 10 −4 to 9.5 × 10 −11 cm 2 V −1 s −1 for PVDF based polymer nano-composites incorporated with ammonium iodide (NH 4 I) salt.…”

Enhancement of Salt Solubility in a Solid Blend Polymer Electrolyte by Gamma Irradiation: Effects on Ion Dynamics and Relaxation Properties

“…The intensity profile of the FTIR spectra was taken after background correction under an air atmosphere. The characteristics of the FTIR band were analysed using previous literature [25,26]. The peak shifting, generation of new peaks, and peak broadening confirmed the microstructural variation of polymer composites.…”

“…Most of the research work was carried out on the lithium (Li) and sodium (Na) salt due to its lower cation size and high transport number [16,23]. The ionic conductivity was enhanced by different methods like polymer blending, plasticizer addition, and nanofiller incorporation [18,[24][25][26].…”