Nanocomposite PEO-based polymer electrolyte using a highly porous, super acid zirconia filler

In this work we report a new composite, PEO-based lithium polymer electrolyte containing a micro-sized, nanoporous zirconium-oxide-sulfate (Zr-O-SO4) filler synthesized by a surfactant templating sol-gel route. By thermal and transport studies, we show that the particular morphology of the filler enhances the properties of the material leading to a solvent-free electrolyte having unique features in terms of ionic conductivity, lithium ion transference number and thermal behaviour. Finally, the galvanostatic test of the lithium battery prepared using lithium iron phosphate, LiFePO4, as the cathode, lithium metal as the anode and the studied membrane as the electrolyte, shows enhanced performances also at the medium-low temperatures. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.