Liquid polymer nanocomposites PEGME-SnO2 and PEGME-TiO2 prepared through solvothermal methods

A large number of polyether groups are modified on SnO2 and TiO2 nanocrystals through sol-gel methods and solvothermal treatments to form the stable liquid nanocomposites poly( ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME)- SnO2 and PEGME- TiO2. These transparent viscous liquids can be dissolved by organic solvents, and the resulting colloids are also very stable; these nanocomposites themselves are able to dissolve lithium salts to form liquid electrolytes which have good ionic conductivities for practical applications. The conductive mechanism for such liquid electrolytes is regarded as ion transfer under the assistance of the PEGME group motion, which is totally different from that for the typical ionic liquids and the traditional liquid electrolytes based on organic solvents and metal salts.