Mechanical strength and ionic conductivity of polymer electrolyte membranes prepared from cellulose acetate-lithium perchlorate

Abstract

The need for secondary batteries is increasing every year. The secondary battery using a liquid electrolyte has some weaknesses. A solid polymer electrolyte is the alternative electrolytes developed to replace the liquid electrolyte type. This study was conducted to determine the effect of lithium perchlorate content on the polymer electrolyte membranes of cellulose acetate-LiClO4. The cellulose acetate-LiClO4 membranes were prepared by mixing cellulose acetate and LiClO4 in various compositions using tetrahydrofurane (THF) as solvent. The effect of LiClO4 ratios on the polymer electrolyte membranes was studied by analysis of the functional groups using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) spectroscopy measurement, the ionic conductivity by EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) method, and mechanical properties by tensile tester measurements. The ionic conductivity of the membranes increased with the increasing in the ratios of lithium perchlorate content in the membranes and reached the optimum value at 1.79×10-4 S cm-1 corresponded to the cellulose acetate doped with 25% (w/w) LiClO4 membrane. The presence of 10% (w/w) LiClO4 content within cellulose acetate membranes can increase the mechanical properties of the membranes from 19.89 to 43.29 MPa for tensile strength, and from 2.55 to 4.53% for elongation at break. However, when the cellulose acetate membranes containing ratio of LiClO4 more than 10% (w/w), consequently the tensile strength tended to decrease and the elongation at break was increased.