Effect of Li3+ ion irradiation on ionic transport properties of complexed polymer electrolytes

Abstract

Swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation effects on ionic conduction in the PVA-H3PO4 polymer electrolyte films have been investigated due to its variety of applications in electrochemical devices. Polymer electrolytes films are irradiated with 50 MeV Li3+ ions having five different fluences viz. 5×1010, 1011, 5×1011, 1012 and 5×1012 ions/cm2. It is observed that irradiation of the polymer electrolyte films with swift heavy ions shows enhancement in conductivity at lower fluences and decrease in conductivity at higher fluences. It appears that below the critical fluence, swift heavy ion irradiation increases the diffusivity of Li+ ion in the polymer electrolyte which provides larger pathways for ionic transport throughout the system. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity variation has been used to compute the activation energy involved in conduction process. © 2010 Materials Research Society.