SAXS/DSC Study of Polymer Electrolyte for Zn Rechargeable Nanostructured Galvanic Cells

polymer electrolytes and nanocomposites were prepared using PEO γ-irradiated by a selected dose of and nanograins. The influence of the added nanosize grains on the polymer electrolytes and the effect of γ-radiation from a Co-60 source were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) simultaneously recorded with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at the synchrotron ELETTRA. Impedance spectroscopy was also performed. The above-mentioned treatments greatly enhanced the conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. A room temperature conductivity increase of up to two orders of magnitude was achieved. The addition of nanograins increased the conductivity more than can be ascribed to the changes in crystallinity, possibly because of interactions of anions with nanograins. It is observed that the brittleness of the γ-irradiated electrolyte was also reduced by nanograins.