Abstract / Summary
Abstract The escalating demand for wireless electronics in smart technologies underscores the critical need for advanced solid-state energy storage devices. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer a promising, leakage-free alternative to liquid variants in lithium battery systems. Blending complementary polymers, such as poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), alongside incorporating inorganic nano-fillers serves as a highly effective approach to tailoring their electrochemical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics. In this work, novel nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) membranes based on a PVAc–PEMA blend complexed with lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) and varying weight fractions (0 to 10 wt%) of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were successfully fabricated via a standard solution casting technique. The synthesized membranes were systematically characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). To overcome the ambient ionic transport limitations of dry solid films, the optimized 10 wt% TiO2 matrix was subjected to a high-energy post-fabrication shock wave treatment, and its electrochemical behavior was thoroughly evaluated via Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). FTIR structural analysis confirmed successful intermolecular interactions and complexation within the host polymer blend matrix. XRD studies verified the homogenous dispersion of the TiO2 nano-fillers within a predominantly amorphous polymer network. Prior to shock wave exposure, SEM micrographs of the cast film revealed a highly dense, smooth surface morphology with limited superficial micro-porosity, which restricted ambient ion pooling and yielded a baseline room-temperature conductivity of 6.74×10−8 S cm−1 (sample JCP5). Thermal analysis via DSC demonstrated exceptional thermal profiles, showing that the electrolyte membranes maintain stable operational baselines up to an elevated decomposition threshold of 240∘C. Following exposure to the shock wave treatment, the optimized JCP5 electrolyte membrane exhibited a dramatic morphological and electrochemical transformation. Post-shock SEM analysis revealed the development of a highly porous architecture featuring a well-defined, interconnected micro-pore network. This structural reorganization drastically minimized the energy barriers for segmental chain movement and created rapid "ion highways" across the matrix. Consequently, EIS evaluations showed a massive surge in electrochemical performance, with the room-temperature ionic conductivity skyrocketing by nearly four orders of magnitude to an exceptional value of 1.2559×10−4 S cm−1 at 303K. By combining the inherent thermal resilience (240∘C) of the dry PVAc–PEMA–TiO2 framework with an innovative shock wave processing technique, this study successfully addresses the long-standing trade-off between mechanical/thermal stability and ambient conductivity. The resulting highly porous, ultra-conducting solid polymer membrane demonstrates outstanding engineering viability for high-performance, solid-state lithium batteries operating under demanding modern conditions.