Effects of ceramic filler in poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) based polymer blend electrolytes

Effects of nano-ceramic filler titanium oxide (TiO2) have been investigated on the ionic conductance of polymeric complexes consisting of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), and lithium perchlorate (LiClO4). The composite polymer blend electrolytes were prepared by solvent casting technique. The TiO2 nanofillers were homogeneously dispersed in the polymer electrolyte matrix and exhibited excellent interconnection with PVC/PEMA/PC/LiClO4 polymer electrolyte. The addition of TiO2 nanofillers improved the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte to some extent when the content of TiO2 is 15 wt%. The addition of TiO2 also enhanced the thermal stability of the electrolyte. The changes in the structural and complex formation properties of the materials are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The scanning electron microscope image of nano-composite polymer electrolyte membrane confirms that the TiO2 nanoparticles were distributed uniformly in the polymer matrix. (C) 2015 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.