Composite gel membranes: a new class of improved polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries

Novel composite, gel-type polymer electrolytes have been prepared by dispersing selected ceramic powders into a matrix formed by a lithium salt solution contained in a poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) network. The electrochemical characterization demonstrates that these new types of composite gel electrolytes have high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical stability and, particularly, high chemical integrity (no liquid leakage) even at temperatures above ambient. These unique properties make the composite gel membranes particularly suitable as electrolyte separators in lithium ion polymer batteries.