Polymer electrolytes, problems, prospects, and promises

Ionically conducting polymer electrolytes have generated, in recent years, wide-spread interest as candidate materials for a number of applications including high energy density and power lithium batteries. In the early 70s the first measurements of ionic conductivity in polyethylene oxide (PEO)-salt complexes were carried out. However, Armand was the first one to realize potential of these complexes (polymer-salt complexes) as practical ionically conducting materials for use as electrolytes in lithium batteries. Subsequent research efforts identified the limitations and constraints of the polymer electrolytes. These limitations include poor ionic conductivity at RT (< 10{sup {minus}8} S/cm), low cation transport number (