Enhancing ionic conductivity, mechanical stability and electrochemical properties simultaneously by integrating POSS-PEG13.3 hybrid nanoparticles into PEO-NaClO4 solid polymer electrolytes
Anji Reddy Polu, Pramod K. Singh, Aseel A. Kareem, Shufeng Song, Serguei V. Savilov, M. Z. A. Yahya, Markus Diantoro, Firdaus Mohamad Hamzah, S.N.F. Yusuf, Faisal Islam Chowdhury
Abstract
• A nanocomposite solid polymer electrolyte was developed utilizing a solution casting method. • At 30 °C, the composites exhibit an ionic conductivity reaching up to 1.02 × 10 –4 S/cm. • The addition of POSS-PEG 13.3 significantly improves the mechanical properties of the SPEs. • The nanocomposite solid polymer electrolyte demonstrates a high ion transport number. • The 70PEO-30NaClO 4 - 40 wt.% POSS-PEG 13.3 electrolyte yielded improved battery performance. The increasing global energy demand and environmental concerns necessitate the development of sustainable energy storage solutions. Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance and low cost of sodium. This study investigates the impact of incorporating hybrid nanoparticles, specifically polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane - poly(ethylene glycol) (POSS-PEG 13.3 ), on the performance of polyethylene oxide (PEO) - sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4 ) based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). The results demonstrate that the incorporation of POSS-PEG 13.3 effectively disrupts the crystallinity of the PEO matrix, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. Consequently, the ionic conductivity of the SPEs increases with increasing POSS-PEG 13.3 content, reaching a maximum of 1.02 × 10 –4 S/cm at 30 °C for the electrolyte containing 40 wt.% of POSS-PEG 13.3 . Furthermore, the addition of POSS-PEG 13.3 significantly improves the mechanical properties of the SPEs, enhancing their stability and durability. The ionic transference number (t ion = 0.988) confirm that ions are the primary charge carriers in these electrolytes. Additionally, linear sweep voltammetry and battery discharge studies indicate a wide electrochemical stability window of 3.32 V, demonstrating the suitability of these SPEs for Na-ion battery applications.