Nanocomposite polymer electrolytes and their impact on the lithium battery technology

Lithium polymer electrolytes formed by dissolving a lithium salt LiX in poly(ethylene oxide) PEO may find useful application as separators in Lithium rechargeable polymer batteries. The main problems which are still to be solved for a complete successful operation of these materials are the reactivity of their interface with the lithium metal electrode and the decay of their conductivity at temperatures below 70 degreesC. In this paper we demonstrate that a successful approach for overcoming these problems is the dispersion of selected, low-particle size ceramic powders in the polymer mass with the aim of developing new types of nanocomposite PEO-LiX polymer electrolytes characterized by enhanced interfacial stability as well as by improved ambient temperature transport properties. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.