Ionic conduction and electrochemical properties of new poly(acrylonitrile-itaconate)-based gel polymer electrolytes

A new copolymer polyacrylonitrile-co-bis[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]itaconate (abbreviated as PAM) was synthesized in the hope of getting a polymer host having a better ability of trapping organic solvent to overcome the drawba cks of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) system gel polymer electrolytes. Blend of PA N and PANI was complexed with organic solvents, ethylene carbonate CEC) and gamma\-butyrolactone CBL),. and LiClO4 salt. The highest room temperature conductivity of 1.9 x 10(-3) S cm(-1) was found for a film of 25PAN-10PANI- 50EC/BL- 15LiClO(4), The PANI was found to effectively trap organic solvent s and, therefore, greatly enhance the miscibility of polymer host and solve nts, possibly due to ion chelating ability of itaconate unit. The PAN-PANI blend gel-electrolyte, as compared with pristine PAN-based electrolyte, had better electrochemical stability and was more stable toward lithium electr ode, though it exhibited slightly less mechanical rigidity caused by amorph ization of the PAN matrix. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.