Investigations on ION Transport and Materials Properties of PEO based KIO3

Research Study reports synthesis and characterization of potassium (K+) ion conducting SPE: (PEO: KIO3) and NCPE: (70PEO: 30KIO3) + x SiO2 films. These films were casted by hot-press technique as well as traditional solution cast method in order to compare the quality of the films. Solution casting of the films could become possible due to the availability of a common solvent which could dissolve both the polymer (PEO) and salt (KIO3). The conductivity measurements were done at fixed (5 KHz.) frequency. A comparative studies have been carried out on (PEO: KIO3) polymer electrolyte films dispersed with nano- sized SiO2 prepared using a novel hot-press and the solution cast techniques. Fractional dispersal of nano-SiO2 in to SPE host: (70PEO: 30 KIO3) + enhanced the room conductivity by more than 3 – fold. The complexation of the salt in the polymer has been confirmed by SEM, XRD, DSC, FTIR studies.