Polymer nanocomposites: a new strategy for synthesizing solid electrolytes for rechargeable lithium batteries

The ionic conductivity and lithium electrode-electrolyte interfacial stability have been measured for composite polymer electrolytes using micrometer- and nanometer-size alumina (Al2O3) with polyethylene oxide (PEO) and lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4). The influence of the nanometer-size alumina particles increases ionic conductivity by an order of magnitude compared with micrometer-size particles. The interfacial stability is increased a factor of two. Characterization of layered nanocomposite polymer electrolytes based upon melt intercalation of PEO in layered silicates (montmorillonite) show that the intercalated PEO is amorphous.