Studies on CuI Dispersed Mixed (Ion + Electron) Conducting Composite Polymer Electrolyte System

Abstract

This paper reports the mixed (ionic + electronic) conducting behavior of a copper iodide (CuI) dispersed composite polymer electrolyte system with the help of various characterization techniques. The composite polymer electrolyte films were prepared with different wt.% of CuI, dispersed in a host polymer-salt complex by the solution cast technique. Prepared films were then subjected to various characterization techniques for analysis. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed to verify the composite nature of the prepared samples. The conductivity and dielectric constant of each sample were analyzed with the help of complex impedance spectroscopy. The dielectric permittivity (ε′), dielectric loss (ε″), real (M′) and imaginary (M″) parts of the electric modulus were also calculated to understand the ion transport mechanism. Transference number of ions (tion) was calculated by a polarization technique. Finally, the concentration (n) and mobility (μ) of charge carriers were calculated to explain the changes in conductivity of CuI dispersed polymer films. We observed that the conductivity pattern of the samples predominantly depends on the concentration of charge carriers. © 2018, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.