Electrical, optical, and structural characterization of polymer blend (PVC/PMMA) electrolyte films

Ion-conducting solid polymer blend electrolytes based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/poly methyl rnetbacrylate (PMMA) complexed with sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) were prepared in various concentrations by solution cast technique. The features of complexation of the electrolytes were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. DC conductivity of the films was measured in the temperature range 303-398 K. Transference number measurements were carried out to investigate the nature of,charge transport in the polymer blend electrolyte system. The electrical conductivity increased with increasing dopant concentration, which is attributed to the formation of charge transfer complexes. The polymer complexes exhibited Arrhenius type dependence of conductivity with temperature. In the temperature range studied, two regions with different activation energies were observed. Transference number data showed that the charge transport in this system is predominantly due to ions. Optical properties like absorption edge, direct band gap, and indirect band gap were estimated for pure and doped films from their optical absorption spectra in the wavelength region 200-600 mn. It was found that the energy gap and band edge values shifted to lower energies on doping with NaClO4 salt.