Development of electrochemical cells based on (PEO + NaYF4) and (PEO + KYF4) polymer electrolytes

Thin film ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with NaYF4 and KYF4 salts have been prepared using the solution-cast technique. The complexation of NaYF4 and KYF4 salts with PEO were confirmed by infra-red and X-ray diffraction studies. The results of the electrical conductivity and transference number measurements in these electrolytes have been reported. Electrochemical cells with the polymer electrolytes (PEO+NaYF4) and (PEO+KYF4) have been fabricated with the configuration Na-(PEO + NaYF4)-(I2 + C + electrolyte) and K-(PEO + KYF4)-(I2 + C + electrolyte) respectively and their discharge characteristics studied. The open circuit voltages and short circuit currents were respectively found to be 2.45 V and 560 μA for the NaYF4 complexed cell and 2.4 V and 140 μA for the KYF4 complexed cell. Several other cell parameters have been evaluated and reported.