Polyether-grafted SnO2nanoparticles designed for solid polymer electrolytes with long-term stability

Abstract

Polyether-grafted SnO₂ nanoparticles are prepared through a hydrothermal method and exchange reactions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) results illustrate that these nanoparticles are uniform, mono-dispersed and about 3 nm in diameter, while thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA) and infrared (IR) data prove that poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) (PEGME) groups are bound tightly on SnO₂ surfaces. The composites of such PEGME-SnO₂ nanoparticles and LiClO₄ exhibit ionic conductivity over 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹, and the PEGME–SnO₂–LiClO₄ composites act as the main conductive component when PEGME–SnO₂ fillers are incorporated in the prototypical PEO–LiClO₄ films. The PEO–(PEGME–SnO₂)–LiClO₄ films exhibit improved conductivities with long-term stability, enhanced Li⁺ transference numbers and better mechanical properties.