The vibrational spectroscopic study of polyacrylonitrile-based electrolyte

The existence of the interactions between the components in the system of the so-called mixed phase polymer electrolyte of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-ethylene carbonate (EC)-LiClO4 has been studied by means of Raman and IR spectroscopy. Evident experimental data indicate that the plasticizer EC takes an important role in the polymer electrolyte system. By solving the lithium salt and the polymer, EC not only interacts with the Li+ ions through its C=O group, but also interacts with the polymer by way of the dipole-dipole coupling of the C=O group of EC and the C=N group of PAN. Moreover, on plasticizing the polymer host in the electrolyte, EC plays the part of a bridge between the lithium salt and the polymer, supplying a position on the C=N group of PAN for the Li+ ion to occupy.