Author(s)

M. Y. A. Rahman, A. Ahmad, T. K. Lee, Y. Farina, H. M. Dahlan

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In this research, new thin film of a free standing electrolyte film containing poly(vinyl) chloride (PVC), 50% liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR50), Ethylene carbonate (EC) blends as a host for the electrolyte which was doped with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as the dopant salt was successfully prepared with solution casting technique. The polymer electrolyte of PVC-LENR50-EC-LiClO₄ was characterized using impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). From the EIS results shows that electrolyte exhibited the highest ionic conductivity of 2.1 × 10^–7 S●cm^–1 at the 30 wt.% of LiClO₄. The ionic conductivity result was supported by the morphological studies which revealed the good homogeneity of the PVC-LENR50-EC blends as no phase separation was observed. The smooth surface can ease the mobility of ions in the system complexes. In addition, the formation of micro-pores by introducing lithium salts to the electrolyte also improved the transportation properties of L⁺ ions in the electrolyte system and hence improving its ionic conductivity. The features of complexation of the electrolytes were studied by ATR-FTIR.

PVC, LENR50, LiClO₄, Ionic Conductivity, Polymers Electrolyte, EC

Rahman, M. , Ahmad, A. , Lee, T. , Farina, Y. and Dahlan, H. (2011) Effect of Ethylene Carbonate (EC) Plasticizer on Poly (Vinyl Chloride)-Liquid 50% Epoxidised Natural Rubber (LENR50) Based Polymer Electrolyte. Materials Sciences and Applications, 2, 817-825. doi: 10.4236/msa.2011.27111.