Electrochimica Acta, Vol.40, No.13-14, 2265-2268, 1995
New Concept for Polymer Electrolyte - Dual-Phase Polymer Electrolyte
Two types of dual-phase polymer electrolytes (DPE), mixed latex DPE and core-shell latex DPE, were fabricated from styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) latex mixture, and from polybutadiene (PB)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) core-shell latex. Polar phases of films made from these latices were selectively impregnated with lithium salt solution, constituting dual-phase structures. TEM images verified the dual-phase structures. The ionic conductivity vs. NBR conductive-phase content relationship showed a profile characteristic of percolation effect, which also endorsed the dual-phase structure of mixed latex DPE. For both types of DPEs, ionic conductivity on the order of 10(-3) S/cm was obtained. However, the PVP conductive phase of the core-shell latex DPE was partially leached out in the preparation process. The modulus of mixed latex DPE was 6 x 10(6) dyn/cm(2) at room temperature, even with a lithium salt solution content of 61 wt%, suggesting that the SBR cm supporting phase is little affected by the lithium salt solution.