Ion transport and electrochemical cell characteristic studies of a new (PVP+NaNO3) polymer electrolyte system

Polymer electrolyte films based on poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) complexed with NaNO3 salt have been prepared by solution-cast technique. Several exp erimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Infrared (IR), DC-electrica l conductivity, transference number measurements have been employed to char acterize the polymer electrolyte. The conductivity of the (PVP + NaNO3) ele ctrolyte is about 10(4) times larger than that of pure PVP at room temperat ure. The transference number measurements show that the charge transport in this polymer electrolyte system is predominantly due to ions. Using this p olymer electrolyte, an electrochemical cell with the configuration Na/(PVP + NaNO3)/(I-2 + C + electrolyte) has been fabricated and its discharge char acteristics studied. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and short circuit curre nt (SCC) observed for the cell are 2.65 V and 1.1 mA respectively. A number of other cell parameters evaluated are also reported. (C) 2000 Kluwer Acad emic Publishers.