Effect of nano-size fumed silica on ionic conductivity of PVdF-HFP-based plasticized nano-composite polymer electrolytes

Nano-composite polymer electrolytes containing poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP), ammonium tetrafluoroborate (NH4BF4), and nano-size fumed silica (SiO2) have been prepared and characterized by complex impedance spectroscopy. Ionic conductivity of polymer has been found to increase with the addition of NH4BF4, and a maximum conductivity of 3.62 × 10−6 S/cm has been obtained at 30 wt% NH4BF4. The formation of ion aggregates at high concentration of salt has been explained by Bjerrum’s law and mass action considerations. The conductivity of polymer electrolytes has been increased by three orders of magnitude (10−6 to 10−3 S/cm) with the addition of plasticizer, and a maximum conductivity of 1.10 × 10−3 S/cm has been observed at 80 wt% DMA. An increase in conductivity with the addition of nano-size fumed silica is attributed due to the formation of space-charge layers. A maximum conductivity of 7.20 × 10−3 S/cm has been observed for plasticized nano-composite polymer electrolytes at 3 wt% SiO2. X-ray diffraction analysis of polymer electrolyte system was also carried out. A small change in conductivity of nano-composite polymer electrolytes observed over the 30–130 °C temperature range and for a period of 30 days is also desirable for their use in various applications.