Biopolymer Electrolytes for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

Solid polymer electrolytes have many advantages over the liquid electrolytes which contain highly flammable organic solvents and inorganic molten salts. The problems associated with liquid electrolytes, such as internal short-circuiting, leaks, and production of combustible reaction products at the electrode surfaces, have been eliminated by the utilization of a solid polymer electrolyte. Polymer electrolytes are a highly specialized field, encompassing all the specialties of organic, inorganic, and polymer chemistry, along with electrochemistry. Solvent-free polymer electrolytes are obtained by dissolving a salt in a high-molecular-weight polar polymer matrix. The choice of the polymer and its dopant salt is critical. The polymer should have a flexible chain, with a large number of polar groups and a low glass transition temperature. Generally, a polymeric gel is defined as a system with a polymer network swollen with solvent. Composite polymer electrolytes are defined as a type of polymer electrolyte with inorganic or organic fillers in the polymer matrix.