Conductivity and intermolecular interactions in proton‐conducting gel electrolytes

Abstract

Proton-conducting gel electrolytes based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF), and mixtures of PMMA with PVdF or poly(vinyl chloride) doped by acid solutions in aprotic solvents were synthesized and are discussed in this article. The gel conductivity as a function of the concentrations of acid and polymer and the polymeric matrix composition has been analyzed. Extreme dependence of the conductivity on acid and polymer concentrations was found. It was revealed that within the acid concentration range studied, the gel conductivity was higher than the conductivity of the corresponding liquid electrolytes used for the synthesis. The increase in the electrical conductivity with the growth of the systems viscosity is discussed as an indication of a certain involvement of the polymer matrix in the increase of the charge carrier mobility within the frame of a Grotthuss mechanism.

Temperature-responsive proton-conductive liquid crystals formed by the self-assembly of zwitterionic ionic liquids

“…Proton conducting gel electrolytes, as appropriate alternatives to liquid and solid electrolytes, are very important components of clean energy devices. [1][2][3][4] Current studies are mainly about polymer gel electrolytes and improving their ionic conductivity behaviors. [5][6][7] Introduction of liquid-crystalline properties provides a new perspective for the development of advanced functional gel electrolytes.…”