Fabrication and charge/discharge behaviour of some lithium solid polymer electrolyte cells

A report is given of the fabrication of some laboratory model lithium cells using solid polymer electrolytes (SPE). These SPEs are based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and lithium picrate/lithium lactate salts. Electrochemical parameters (i.e., open-circuit potential, short-circuit current) and the discharge behaviour under different current drains of these cells are studied. The behaviour of cells with SPE blended with plasticizer like polyethylene glycol is also examined. It has been observed that a lithium cell with a PEO/lithium picrate electrolyte in combination with a picrate-doped polypyrrole cathode behaves excellently compared with other systems. The results are explained in terms of higher ion conductivity of PEO/picrate salt complexes.