Electrospun poly(vinylidene‐fluoride)/POSS nanofiber membrane‐based polymer electrolytes for lithium ion batteries

In this study, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) nanofibrous membranes are prepared through electrospun process. Field emission scanning electron microscope images clearly show that PVDF/POSS membranes have interconnected multi fibrous layers with ultrafine porous structures. The average fiber diameter and crystallinity of PVDF/POSS membranes are lesser than that of pure PVDF membrane. Thermal stability and electrolyte uptake of blend membranes increase with increasing POSS content. Finally, PVDF/POSS membranes are soaked in a liquid electrolyte to form the polymer electrolytes and are assembled in coin cells to test their electrochemical properties such as ionic conductivity, interfacial characteristics, and electrochemical stability windows. The ionic conductivity improves with increasing POSS content and the highest ionic conductivity reaches 2.91 × 10⁻³ S/cm at room temperature. It is also worth mention that the composite polymer electrolytes show low interfacial resistance and high electrochemical stability window of 5.6 V (vs. Li⁺ /Li) with storage time. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:629–636, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers