Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 25 No 2 (2021): 234 - 242

 

 

 

 

FORMATION, MORPHOLOGICAL, MOLECULAR INTERACTION AND IONIC CONDUCTIVITY OF SiO₂ FILLED PMMA/PEG ELECTROLYTES

 

(Pembentukan, Morfologıkal, Interaksı Molekul dan Kekonduksıan Ionık Elektrolıt PMMA/PEG Terısı SiO₂)

 

Nurul Dhabitah Basri¹, Famiza Abdul Latif^1,2, Ruhani Ibrahim^1,2, Fazni Susila Abdul Ghani^1,2, Sharil Fadli Mohamad Zamri^1,2*

 

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences

²Synthesis and Application of Conducting Polymer Research Group

Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author:  sharil7240@uitm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 20 November 2020; Accepted: 16 February 2021; Published: 25 April 2021

 

 

Abstract

In this study, silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was used as a filler in the preparation of polymer electrolytes (PEs) containing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The role of SiO₂ as a filler in the formation, morphology molecular interaction, and ionic conductivity of PMMA/PEG electrolytes films was investigated. PMMA/PEG blends were doped with lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF₄) with incorporation of various weight percentages of SiO₂ as a filler. The samples were prepared via the solvent casting method with tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a solvent. PMMA/PEG electrolyte films were characterised using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, optical microscopy (OM), and electron impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was observed that the opacity of the PE films increased as the weight percentage of SiO₂ increased. Meanwhile, it was noted that the intensity of FTIR peaks at 1723 cm^-1, 1386 cm^-1_, and 1239 cm^-1 which corresponded to C=O and O-CH₃ of PMMA, and C-O-C of PEG, respectively, decreased with increased SiO₂ weight percentage. Furthermore, phase separation was observed in OM analysis between PMMA and PEG in the PMMA/PEG blends. Interestingly, the dispersion of PEG-rich phase in the polymer films increased with increased SiO₂ weight percentage. EIS analysis showed that the ionic conductivity of PMMA/PEG electrolyte films increased with increased SiO₂ weight percentage up to 3% with maximum ionic conductivity of 5.55 x 10^-6 S cm^-1. However, the ionic conductivity of PMMA/PEG electrolyte films decreased when the weight percentage of SiO₂ increased beyond 3%.

 

Keywords:  lithium tetrafluoroborate, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(methyl methacrylate), silicon dioxide, polymer electrolytes

 

Abstrak

Dalam kajian ini, silikon dioksida (SiO₂) telah digunakan sebagai pengisi dalam penyediaan elektrolit polimer (Pes) yang mengandungi poli(metil metakrilat) (PMMA) dan poli(etilena glikol). Peranan SiO₂ sebagai pengisi dalam pembentukan, morfologikal, interaksi molekul, dan kekonduksian ionik elektrolit PMMA/PEG filem telah dikaji. Adunan PMMA/PEG telah dicampurkan dengan litium tetrafluoroborat (LiBF₄) dengan tambahan pelbagai peratusan berat SiO₂ sebagai pengisi. Sampel telah disediakan dengan kaedah larutan tuang dengan tetrahidrofuran (THF) sebagai pelarut. Filem elektrolit PMMA/PEG telah dicirikan menggunakan spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), mikroskop optikal (OM) dan spektroskopi elektron impedan (EIS). Pemerhatian menunjukkan bahawa kelegapan filem PE meningkat dengan peratusan berat SiO₂ meningkat. Sementara itu, diperhatikan bahawa keamatan puncak FTIR pada 1723 cm^-1, 1386 cm^-1 dan 1239 cm^-1 sepadan C=O dan O-CH₃ bagi PMMA, dan C-O-C bagi PEG berkurang dengan peratusan berat SiO₂ meningkat. Selanjutnya, analisis OM menunjukkan bahawa terdapat fasa pemisahan antara PMMA dan PEG dalam adunan PMMA/PEG. Menariknya, fasa serakan PEG dalam filem polimer telah meningkat dengan peratusan berat SiO₂ meningkat. Analisis EIS menunjukkan bahawa kekonduksian ionik daripada filem telah meningkat dengan penambahan peratusan berat SiO₂ sehingga 3% dengan kekonduksian ionik tertinggi 5.55 x 10^-6 S cm^-1. Walau bagaimanapun, kekonduksian ionik filem telah menurun apabila peratusan SiO₂ telah tambah melebihi 3%. 

 

Kata kunci:  litium tetrafluoroborat, poli(etilena glikol), poli(metil metakrilat), silikon dioksida, elektrolit polimer

 

 

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