Studies on (PEO + PVA + KIO3) polymer blend electrolyte films for electrochemical cell applications

Poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PEO-PVA) blended polymer electrolytes complexed with KIO3 salt at different weight percentage ratios were prepared using solution casting technique. The complexation of salt with (PEO+PVA) polymer blend was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies. The melting temperature of the polymer blend electrolytes was measured from differential scanning calorimetry studies. Impedance measurements were made in the frequency range of 100 Hz-1 MHz and the temperature range of 300370 K. The electrical conductivity was found to increase with increasing dopant concentration as well as temperature. Transference number measuements were performed to characterise the polyblend electrolyte for battery applications. It is concluded that the present electrolyte is predominantly an ionic conductor. Using these electrolytes, electrochemical cells with the configuration K/(PEO+PVA+KIO3)/(I-2+C+electrolyte) were fabricated, and their discharge characteristics are reported. Other cell parameters, including open circuit voltage and short circuit current, were also evaluated and are reported.