Nb2O5-enhanced P(AN-co-MMA)/LiTFSI composite polymer electrolytes: improved ionic conductivity and electrochemical properties for energy storage
摘要
Polymer electrolytes offer improved safety and stability over liquid electrolytes by eliminating leakage, making them highly promising for energy storage applications. However, their practical use in high-performance devices is still limited by relatively low ionic conductivity. Among the fabricated systems, the Poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacrylate) P(AN-co-MMA)/Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonic)imide (LiTFSI)/Niobium pentoxide Nb2O5 (20 wt%) membrane demonstrates superior physicochemical and electrochemical performance, attributed to its synergistically optimized structural characteristics. The membrane exhibits high porosity (~ 62%) and remarkable electrolyte uptake (~ 249%), thereby promoting efficient ionic transport pathways. The reduced degree of crystallinity (~ 49%) together with enhanced thermal stability significantly contributes to the high room-temperature ionic conductivity of 3.90 × 10–4 S cm−1. Additionally, the membrane possesses excellent mechanical integrity, delivering a tensile strength of 8.5 MPa and an elongation at break of 38%. Furthermore, the electrolyte membrane exhibits a favorable Li⁺ transference number (0.58), a wide electrochemical stability window of 4.6 V, and a low activation energy of 0.30 eV. Overall, the synergistic combination of high conductivity, excellent electrolyte affinity, and stable electrochemical performance highlights its strong potential for next-generation energy storage systems.