Transport Properties of Nano-sized TiO2-based Composite Polymer Electrolyte Prepared by a Green Method

The transport properties of the nano-sized TiO2-based composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) membrane prepared by a green process were investigated. The ion transport phenomena of the CPE was probed by Li-7 solid state NMR spectroscopy and it was found that the lithium ions exist in different environments and were respectively ascribed to the interactions of lithium ions and ether groups, anions and also nano-sized TiO2 particles. Further, the NMR line width become narrowing with temperature suggests that the decrease of ion-pair interaction in the modified CPE. The NMR data is consistent with the conductivity data observed from impedance spectroscopy as a function of temperature. These results suggest that the CPE could be prepared satisfactorily by a green method in which water was used as a solvent instead of organic solvents like THF. In addition, the developed green method is simple, cost effective and environmentally benign due to the absence of hazardous organic solvents.