Ion conducting properties of poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolytes incorporating amorphous silica attached with imidazolium salts

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes containing amorphous silica attached ionic liquid (IL) were studied in order to improve electrochemical and interfacial properties. An imidazolium salt such as IL was attached to modified ceramic fillers. The modified ceramic fillers were amorphous silica with the immobilized 1-methyl-3-propyl-imidazolium bromide (MPIm-AS). PEO-based polymer electrolytes were prepared by using the solution casting technique. In order to investigate the ionic conductivity, studies on the modified filler addition effects on the ion-conducting behavior of polymer electrolytes having specific amounts of MPIm-AS were carried out. The addition of MPIm-AS in polymer electrolytes has resulted in higher ionic conductivity at room temperature. The structure, crystallinity, and morphology of the solid polymer electrolytes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscope measurement. The ionic conductivity was measured by an AC impedance method. The enhanced conductivity was dependent on the decreased crystallinity and the changed morphologies of composites.