Effects of Bu₃MeNTf₂N Ionic Liquid Addition on Conductivity of PVC-NH₄Tf Polymer Electrolytes

Abstract

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with poly (vinyl) chloride (PVC) doped with a fixed amount of ammonium trifluoro methane sulfonate (NH4Tf) and with varying concentrations of ionic liquid butyltrimethyl ammonium bis (trifluoromethyl sulfonyl) imide (Bu3MeNTf2N) were synthesised via solution cast technique. PVC-NH4Tf-Bu3MeNTf2N-based SPEs with 15 weight % Bu3MeNTf2N exhibit conductivity of 1.56 x 10-4 Scm-1 at room temperature. The ionic conductivity is attributed to the dissociation of NH4Tf facilitated by Bu3MeNTf2N. Results of XRD indicate that the most amorphous film has the highest conductivity and this is corroborated by the results of DSC. FTIR spectra revealed that Bu3MeNTf2N has weak interaction suggesting that it acts mainly as a lubricant to facilitate polymer segmental motion.