Polyvinylidenefluoride–hexafluoropropylene based nanocomposite polymer electrolytes (NCPE) complexed with LiPF3(CF3CF2)3

Merck KGaA, Germany recently tested a new electrolyte salt LiPF3(CF3CF2)3 (lithium fluoroalkyl phosphate (LiFAP)) for lithium ion power packs and suggested that it can be replaced with commercially used LiPF6. LiFAP, for the first of its kind, was incorporated into polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF–HFP) matrix with ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate mixtures as plasticizing agents and SiO2 nanoparticles as filler. Nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) membranes were prepared by solvent casting technique. All NCPE membranes were subjected to a.c. impedance, fluorescence and morphological studies. NCPE membranes containing 2.5 wt% of SiO2 exhibited enhanced conductivity of 1.13 mS cm−1 at ambient temperature. Molecular motion in the polymeric media was supported by fluorescence studies. The percentage of crystallinity and activation energy has also been calculated.