LITHIUM ION CONDUCTING CERAMIC POLYETHER COMPOSITES/

Composites of a lithium ion conducting ceramic with a lithium salt bas ed polymer electrolyte matrix are described. Conductivity measurements as a function of the lithium ion conducting ceramic phase content in the composite show that there is a significant increase in conductivit y at approximately 40 vol% of the ceramic. The room temperature conduc tivity above this ceramic content is enhanced by at least 100% over th at of the polymer electrolyte phase alone. It is believed that this ad ditional contribution is substantially lithium ion conduction. The maj or barrier to ion-motion in these materials appears to be the interfac e between the polymer and ceramic. This interfacial resistance is stro ngly moisture-sensitive. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.