Physicochemical characteristics of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene)-alumina for mesocarbon microbeads versus LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Li-ion polymer cells

Membranes based on the composite gel polymer electrolyte (CGPE) system have been prepared through the solution casting method using poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF-HFP)), nanosized alumina ceramics (Al2O3) and 1 M LiCF3SO3 salt dissolved in the mixture of (1:1) ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate (EC+DMC) solvents. Physicochemical characteristics viz., structural, electrochemical properties of these membranes have been analyzed. The optimum composition of 10 wt% Al2O3 with (P(VdF-HFP)) and 1 M LiCF3SO3 in EC+DMC showed a higher ionic conductivity of 7.1047 x 10(-3) S cm(-1), electrochemical stability of 4.9 V (CGPE-10, 30 degrees C) which can be attributed to honey-comb structure. This Li/CGPE-10/LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cell delivered significant enhancement in charge-discharge studies viz., 186 mA h g(-1) (1st) and good capacity retention similar to 90% (50th) in the voltage range 2.5-4.6 V at 0.1 C rate. Also, corresponding Li-ion polymer cell (MCMB/CGPE-10/LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2) yielded proportionate 2.38 mA h and the capacity retention similar to 95% at the 50th cycle. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.