Description

This book provides a brief introduction on the lithium batteries as well as presents the literature available regarding the preparation of gel and composite polymer electrolytes. The experimental techniques that are utilized for the measurement of ionic conductivity, compatibility of lithium metal anode with polymer electrolyte, electrochemical stability, charge- discharge characteristics, thermal stability and FTIR studies have also been described. In the present study, six types of lithium salts, Appropriate amounts of polymer, plasticizers/ inert filler, (AIO[OH]n) and lithium salt (LiX) were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the resultant solution was cast as films using doctor blade method and were allowed to evaporate at ambient temperature. After evaporation of THF, the films were further dried in a temperature controlled oven over 50°C for 8 hi to remove any traces of it. Conductivity measurements were performed by sandwiching the polymer electrolytes between two stainless steel electrodes of diameter 1 cm over a frequency range of lOHz to lOOHz at eight different temperatures.