Poly(ethylene oxide) : succinonitrile-a polymeric matrix for fast-ion conducting redox-couple solid electrolytes

A blend of poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, and succinonitrile, SN, was investigated for the first time for applying it as a polymeric matrix of low-cost and thermally stable fast-ion conducting redox-couple solid polymer electrolytes. The PEO-SN blend in equal weight fraction showed room temperature ionic conductivity of 1 x 10-8 S cm-1 with nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that of PEO due to reduced crystallinity. The blend resulted in a solid electrolyte with improved ionic conductivity of ∼7 x 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 deg. C. The blend and its electrolyte showed thermal stability up to 100 deg. C, which is essential for outdoor application of dye-sensitized solar cells.