Structural and impedance analysis of PAN-based Na+ ion conducting gel polymer electrolytes for energy storage device application

The polymer electrolytes are used in energy storage devices. Sodium ion-conducting gel polymer electrolytes based on Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) complexed with an alkali salt (NaI) and Ethylene carbonate (EC) and Dimethylformamide (DMF) as plasticizing solvents were prepared from solution cast method. The developed membrane were dimensionally stable. Structural, Impedance and conductivity studies were carried on to the prepared samples. The electrical studies were performed using lab-made conductivity setup. The complex formation between NaI salt and PAN had been confirmed by XRD studies and revealed the amorphous behaviour of the prepared membranes. The conductivity and bulk resistance of gel polymer electrolytes were measured by impedance analysis by changing the composition concentration of PAN-NaI. The maximum conductivity (1x10-3 S/cm) was observed for PAN: NaI (70:30) at temperature 373 K. The conductivity dependence temperature of these mebranes obeys the principle of Arrhenius.