Polyacrylonitrile-propylene carbonate-CuX2 (X = Cl, Br, CF3SO3) solid polymer electrolyte

A series of poly(acrylonitrile)-propylene carbonate-CuX2 (PAN-PC-CuX2, wher e X = Cl, Br and CF3SO3) foils of thickness between 0.03 and 0.09 cm, were prepared by means of the solution cast technique. The PAN-PC-CuX2, system f orms flexible foils of good mechanical properties even at high solvent and salt contents. Conductivities of the foils obtained from the analysis of im pedance spectra, reach the level of ca. 5x10(-3) Omega(-1) cm(-1). The temp erature variation of the conductivity for ail the systems studied is of the Arrhenius type. The cyclic polarisation (within the - IV to + 1 V range) o f the Pt/electrolyte/Pt and Cu/electrolyte/Cu cells shows that the depositi on of copper from the electrolyte is basically feasible and reversible. The Cu2+ + 2e(-) reversible arrow Cu redox process, which takes place in the p resence of the weak ligand CF,SO;, [PAN-PC-Cu(CF3SO3)(2) system] is approxi mately two orders of magnitude slower than the CuXn2-n + 2e(-)reversible ar row Cu+nX(-) reaction (X=Cl and Br) which occurs in the case of the PAN-PC- CuCl2, and PAN-PC-CuBr2 electrolytes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.