Role of ceramic reinforcement in composite polymer electrolyte

Composite polymer electrolytes were prepared from PEO (polyethylene oxide), lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), and with three different dielectric reinforcements such as lead zirconium titanate (PZT)‐12000, barium titanate (BT)‐1000, and Alumina (Al₂O₃)‐6. Differential scanning calorimetry and X‐ray diffractometry were employed to reveal the crystalline nature of the electrolytes. The conductivity of the composite polymer electrolytes were measured by impedance spectrometry. Among the three systems, PZT reinforced composite exhibits maximum ionic conductivity of 2.9 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at room temperature. The ionic conductivity of the polymer composites increases with increase in dielectric constant of the reinforcement. The composite with alumina reinforcement displayed strongly modified properties with very weak temperature dependence of conductivity. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:42–46, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers