Effects of alumina whisker in (PEO)8–LiClO4-based composite polymer electrolytes

This paper reports the morphological, electrical and mechanical characteristics of the PEO-based composite polymer electrolytes with alumina whisker as fillers. The SEM results showed that serious microcracks occurred in the pristine PEO–LiClO4 polymer electrolytes when they were quenched at room temperature and spherulites were allowed to form in the electrolytes. Addition of alumina whisker effectively prevented the formation of the microcracks. The whiskers were homogeneously dispersed in the polymer electrolyte matrix and exhibited excellent interconnection with PEO–LiClO4 polymer electrolyte. The addition of whisker additives improved the ionic conductivity of the PEO–LiClO4 polymer electrolytes to some extent when the content of the whisker was less than 20 wt.%. Moreover, the whisker could remarkably improve the mechanical performance of the PEO–LiClO4 polymer electrolyte especially at the temperatures higher than its melting point.