The electrochemical properties of gel electrolytes formed by the immob
ilization in a poly(acrylonitrile) matrix of solutions of common lithi
um salts (eg LiClO4, LiAsF6 and LiN(CF3SO2)2) in organic solvents (eg
the propylene carbonate-ethylene carbonate mixture, gamma-butyrolacton
e or the gamma-butyrolactone-ethylene carbonate mixture) have been det
ermined. The results indicate that in accordance with previous literat
ure data, these electrolytes have a high ionic conductivity, a wide el
ectrochemical stability window and a high lithium transference number.
However, their application in long-life, rechargeable lithium polymer
batteries may be hindered by the instability of the negative electrod
e interface.