Effects of ceramic fillers on the electrical properties of (PEO)16LiClO4 electrolytes

Conductivity and thermal properties on (PEO)16LiClO4 complexes mixed with various inert fillers have been studied. Among 22 fillers studied, a composite material with truely exceptional conductivity has not been found. As the inert particles are added, the glass-transition temperature decreases indicating higher flexibility of PEO chain; at the same time the heat of melting increases indicating higher crystallinity of polymer network, which reveals that the ceramic particles act as nucleation centers. The polymer—ceramic grain boundaries are found not to contribute appreciably to ionic conduction.