Preparation and characterization of hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes: (1-x)PEO: xNaBr

Preparation and ionic transport characterizations of a new Na+ ion conducting hot-pressed solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) (1-x)PEO: xNaBr, where 0 < x < 50 in wt%, have been reported. SPE films have been prepared using a hot-press technique in place of the traditional solution cast method. Two orders of magnitude of the conductivity enhancement achieved in SPE film composition (70PEO:30NaBr) at room temperature. Polymer-salt complexations and thermal behavior of present SPEs have been explained with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), thermogrevimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The Na+ ion conduction in the present SPEs has been discussed on the basis of experimental measurements on its ionic conductivity sigma, ionic mobility mu and ionic transference number t(ion) at room temperature. Temperature dependent ionic conductivity measurement has also been carried out to calculate the activation energy E-a.