Nanocomposite polymer electrolyte for primary alkaline battery / Mohd Yahya Ahmad

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the host polymer, potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the ionic dopant and titanium dioxide (Ti02) as the inorganic nanofiller. Solid polymer electrolytes consisting of PVA with varied concentration of KOH ranging from 0.5M to 2.5M in the interval of 0.5M were prepared using solution cast method. Pellet for each samples were prepared and analyzed using impedance spectroscopy. The highest conducting sample was chosen to be added with 3 wt% to 15 wt% Ti02 nanofiller to further enhance the conductivity. The conductivity value of the highest conducting sample of PVA of KOH was found to be 4.52 x 10-4 Scm-' and upon the addition of nanofiller, the conductivity increased to the maximum value of 1.44 x 10-3 Scm-1. The ionic conductivities for each sample were compared to observe the effects of addition of nanofiller. Impedance spectroscopy studies, dielectric studies and modulus formalism studies have been conducted to provide the understanding of these effects. These studies showed that addition of nanofiller increases the ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolytes and the polymer systems prepared are ionic conductors. Fabrication and characterization of primary alkaline batteries were also carried out to understand its behavior.