Physicochemical characteristics of poly(vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene)–alumina for mesocarbon microbeads versus LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Li-ion polymer cells Original Research Article

Membranes based on the composite gel polymer electrolyte (CGPE) system have been prepared through the solution casting method using poly(vinylidene fluoride–hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF–HFP)), nano-sized alumina ceramics (Al2O3) and 1 M LiCF3SO3 salt dissolved in the mixture of (1:1) ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate (EC+DMC) solvents. Physicochemical characteristics viz., structural, electrochemical properties of these membranes have been analyzed. The optimum composition of 10 wt% Al2O3 with (P(VdF–HFP)) and 1 M LiCF3SO3 in EC+DMC showed a higher ionic conductivity of 7.1047×10−3 S cm−1, electrochemical stability of 4.9 V (CGPE-10, 30 °C) which can be attributed to honey-comb structure. This Li/CGPE-10/LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 cell delivered significant enhancement in charge–discharge studies viz., 186 mA h g−1 (1st) and good capacity retention ∼90% (50th) in the voltage range 2.5–4.6 V at 0.1 C rate. Also, corresponding Li-ion polymer cell (MCMB/CGPE-10/LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2) yielded proportionate 2.38 mA h and the capacity retention ∼95% at the 50th cycle.