Conductivity study of some polymer electrolytes based on polyacrylonitrile

The present paper deals with the room temperature conductivity study of some polymer electrolytes based on polyacrylonitrile, ammonium tetraflouroborate as dopant, and propylene carbonate (PC) and polyethylene glycols (PEG300 and PEG600) as plasticizers. The additions of plasticizers having different dielectric constant have been found to modify the conductivity of polymer electrolytes. The increase in room temperature conductivity with plasticizer addition has been found to depend upon (1) the amount of salt present and (2) amount of plasticizers added. The polymer electrolytes prepared were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron micrographs, infrared, thermogravimetric, and AC impedance measurements. The highest room temperature conductivity observed in case of these polymer electrolytes was ∼10–13 s/cm.