New Polymer Assembles with Potential Use as Solid Electrolytes Type Membranes

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) membranes with varying composition ratios were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(metacrylic acid) (PMMA). The acrylic acid monomer with cross-linker was first blended with PVA polymer. A free radical polymerization was then carried out to form an alkaline polymer electrolyte. The solution casting method was used to form the solid polymer membranes. The solid polymer membranes were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM morphology analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that at room temperature the highest ionic conductivity for the PVA/PAA/KOH solid polymer membrane electrolyte system was 4.54·10-8 Ω-1 cm-1. The PVA/PAA polymer membrane had good mechanical strength and ductility and would be a suitable polymer membrane electrolyte for the alkaline batteries and other electrochemical systems.