Improved zinc ion transportation in gel polymer electrolyte upon the addition of nano-sized SnO₂

Abstract

Nanocomposite gel polymer electrolytes (NCGPEs) consisting of Zn(OTf)2 salt solution in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid (EMIMTFSI), entrapped in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) matrices, and dispersed with different concentrations of tin oxide (SnO2) nanofiller were prepared by simple solution casting method. The free-standing film of the composite gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) exhibited an optimum ionic conductivity value of 4.92 × 10−4 Scm−1 at ambient temperature. The gel composites developed predominant amorphous phase and porous morphologies, thus supporting the high ionic conduction as confirmed from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies. The complex formation properties of the materials were evaluated by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy technique. The dispersion of nanofillers in GPEs improved the thermal behavior of the composite system to 185°C, which was ascertained by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The electrochemical stability window of approximately 4.37 V with feasible plating/stripping process of zinc metal on stainless steel electrode was analyzed by voltammetric studies and all these features suggested the possibility of exploiting NCGPE films as electrolytes in batteries.

Flexible poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)-based gel polymer electrolyte for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

“… 11,12 The ideal GPEs must exhibit high room temperature ion conductivity, lithium-ion transference number, electrochemical stability window and mechanical strength, etc. 13–16 Recently, the polymers have been widely studied, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), 17 poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), 18–20 poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), 21 poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), 22–24 poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), 25 and poly(vinylidene fluoride- co -hexafluorpropylene) (PVDF-HFP). 1,26,27 Among them, the high electron-absorption C–F bonds of PVDF-HFP polymer has attracted great interest from scientific researchers, due to its excellent thermal endurance, superior dielectric constant, good mechanical performance, and high electrochemical stability.…”

Research progress on the design of electrolyte additives and their functions for zinc-ion batteries

“…In addition, due to the combined action of IL and inorganic particles, the battery maintains a very high ionic conductivity at room temperature (figure 18(b)). Furthermore, Prasanna and Austin Suthanthiraraj prepared a new type of nanocomposite GPE (NCGPEs) [177] by adding tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanofiller, 1ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide IL (EMIMTFSI) PVC/poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) mixed into Zn(OTf) 2 salt solution. The experimental results show that the Zn cell prepared using this electrolyte has a high ionic conductivity of 4.92 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at room temperature, and the electrochemical stability window can reach 4.37 V.…”

Electrochemical and thermal properties of polymer-layered silicate nanocomposites for energy storage applications

“…1,2 The main advantage of polymer electrolytes lies in their free-standing ability. 3 Ionic conductivity, mechanical strength and interfacial stability of polymer electrolytes can be enhanced by incorporating nanofillers in the polymer electrolyte. 4 Ulaganathan et al studied charge transport, mechanical and storage performances of sepiolite based composite polymer electrolytes and reported a higher ionic conductivity in the order of 3.58 × 10 −4 S cm −1 .…”