Conductivity study of polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with sodium bicarbonate

Ion conducting thin film polymer electrolytes based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with NaHCO3 salt has been prepared using solution-cast technique. The complexation of NaHCO3 salt with PEO is confirmed by XRD and IR studies. DC conductivity in the temperature range 303–368 K has been evaluated. The conductivity is found to increase in the PEO complex with the NaHCO3 salt and also with an increase in temperature. Using this polymer electrolyte, an electrochemical cell with the configuration Na/(PEO + NaHCO3)/(I2 + C + electrolyte) has been fabricated and its discharge characteristics studied. Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) and Short Circuit Current (SCC) are found to be 2.69 V and 1.28 mA, respectively. Other parameters associated with the cell are evaluated and presented in this paper.