Issue 29, 2011

High ionic conductivity P(VDF-TrFE)/PEO blended polymer electrolytes for solid electrochromic devices

Abstract

Solid polymer electrolytes with excellent ionic conductivity (above 10−4 S cm−1), which result in high optical modulation for solid electrochromic (EC) devices are presented. The combination of a polar host matrix poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) P(VDF-TrFE) and a solid plasticized of a low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (Mw ≤ 20 000) blended polymer electrolyte serves to enhance both the dissolution of lithium salt and the ionic transport. Calorimetric measurement shows a reduced crystallization due to a better intermixing of the polymers with small molecular weight PEO. Vibrational spectroscopy identifies the presence of free ions and ion pairs in the electrolytes with PEO of Mw ≤ 8000. The ionic dissolution is improved using PEO as a plasticizer when compared to liquid propylene carbonate, evidently shown in the transference number analysis. Ionic transport follows the Arrhenius equation with a low activation energy (0.16–0.2 eV), leading to high ionic conductivities. Solid electrochromic devices fabricated with the blended P(VDF-TrFE)/PEO electrolytes and polyaniline show good spectroelectrochemical performance in the visible (300–800 nm) and near-infrared (0.9–2.4 μm) regions with a modulation up to 60% and fast switching speed of below 20 seconds. The successful introduction of the solid polymer electrolytes with its best harnessed qualities helps to expedite the application of various electrochemical devices.

Graphical abstract: High ionic conductivity P(VDF-TrFE)/PEO blended polymer electrolytes for solid electrochromic devices

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Aug 2010
Accepted
31 May 2011
First published
24 Jun 2011

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 13319-13326

High ionic conductivity P(VDF-TrFE)/PEO blended polymer electrolytes for solid electrochromic devices

C. A. Nguyen, S. Xiong, J. Ma, X. Lu and P. S. Lee, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 13319 DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01505A

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