Nanocomposite polymer electrolytes and their impact on the lithium battery technology

Lithium polymer electrolytes formed by dissolving a lithium salt LiX in poly(ethylene oxide) PEO may find useful application as separators in lithium rechargeable polymer batteries. The main problems which are still to be solved for a complete successful operation of these materials are the reactivity of their interface with the lithium metal electrode and the decay of their conductivity at temperatures below 70°C. In this paper we demonstrate that a successful approach for overcoming these problems is the dispersion of selected, low-particle size ceramic powders in the polymer mass with the aim of developing new types of nanocomposite PEO-LiX polymer electrolytes characterized by enhanced interfacial stability as well as by improved ambient temperature transport properties.