Characterization of PMMA Based Nano-Composite Polymer Gel Electrolytes Containing Ammonium Thiocyanate for Advanced Electrochemical Devices

Volume 12 Issue 3 February - April 2017

Research Paper

Characterization of PMMA Based Nano-Composite Polymer Gel Electrolytes Containing Ammonium Thiocyanate for Advanced Electrochemical Devices

Rajiv Kumar*

*Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Goswami Ganesh Dutt Sanatan Dharam (G.G.D.S.D.) College, Hariana, Punjab, India.

Kumar, R., (2017). Characterization of PMMA Based Nano-Composite Polymer Gel Electrolytes Containing Ammonium Thiocyanate for Advanced Electrochemical Devices. i-manager’s Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 12(3), 28-34.https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.12.3.13435

Abstract

Non-aqueous nano-composite polymer gel electrolytes using Ethylene Carbonate (EC), Ammonium Thiocyanate (NH₄SCN), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and Nano-sized Fumed Silica (SiO₂) have been synthesized and characterized by ionic conductivity, pH, viscosity, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies. Liquid electrolytes were prepared by dissolving NH₄SCN in ethylene carbonate, then gel electrolytes were obtained by adding PMMA (wt.% of liquid electrolytes) along with continuous stirring. Nano-composite polymer gel electrolytes were then prepared by adding fumed silica in polymer gel electrolytes. The increase in conductivity with the addition of salt has been explained to be due to an increase in free ions concentration by dissociation of salt which is supported by pH measurements. With the addition of PMMA, the conductivity of the electrolytes decreases, that has been explained due to an increase in viscosity of the electrolytes. The conductivity again shows an increase by small amount, when nano-sized fumed silica was added to gel electrolytes, which is due to facilitation of free ions between high conducting interfacial layers formed by fumed silica. The thermal stability of nano-composite polymer gel electrolytes has been checked by DSC studies. The conductivity of nano-composite polymer gel electrolytes does not show much change over 30-100^o C temperature range and also remains constant with time, which is desirable for advanced electrochemical devices like proton batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and other electrochromic devices.