An Indian research team has made a promising breakthrough in making solid state battery from polymer electrolytes1. The researchers have made polymer electrolytes by mixing poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium fluoride (NaF). Using these polymer electrolytes, they have created electrochemical cells, which are potential candidate for solid sate batteries.
The researchers first made films of pure PVA and then various compositions of NaF salt complexed films of PVA were prepared using solution cast technique in triple distilled water as solvent. Then the researchers probed electrical properties of PVA: NaF system and compared with uncomplexed PVA and NaF. Battery parameters like open circuit voltage (OCV) and short circuit current (SCC) were measured.
The mobility of ionic species is important parameter in designing a new polymer electrolyte for batteries. Analysis showed that the charge transport in these polymer electrolytes systems was predominantly due to ions and in particular due to anions. In addition to this, the conductivity was found to increase with the increase of temperature.
