Sodium-ion transfer at the interface between ceramic and organic electrolytes

Sodium-ion transfer through the interface between ceramic and organic electrolytes was studied by AC impedance spectroscopy. Na3Zr1.88Y0.12Si2PO12 (NASICON) and Na-beta ''-alumina were used as ceramic electrolytes, and propylene carbonate (PC) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing 0.05 mol dm(-3) NaCF3SO3 were used as organic electrolytes. The semi-circle ascribed to interfacial charge transfer resistance (R-ct) was observed. The activation energies for sodium-ion transfer at the interface between ceramic and organic electrolytes were evaluated by the temperature dependency of R-ct. As a result, the activation energies depended on the ceramic electrolytes but not on the solvents. These results suggest that sodium-ion transfer from ceramic to organic electrolytes should be responsible for the activation energies, which is contrary to the case in a lithium-ion transfer system. Based on these results, the mechanism of interfacial sodium-ion transfer was discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.