Ion electrolytic flexible composite from poly(ethylene oxide) and E8 nematic liquid crystals

We report an experimental study on structural, electrical and dielectric properties of electrolytic system composed of polymer poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and nematic-type liquid crystals E8 (at composition ratio PEO:E8 = 70:30 wt.%), being of interest for practical applications in rechargeable mini-batteries and organic electronics. Flexible thin films of this organic electrolyte with a thickness of ~ 0.1 mm were characterized by frequency spectra of complex electrical impedance and dielectric function. As compared to the host polymer PEO, a significant improvement of both electrical transport and dielectric properties of PEO-E8 composite electrolyte was achieved. The obtained results were compared with the corresponding values and characteristics measured for advanced metal-organic solid-state polymer electrolytes based on PEO or blends of PEO with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) - ionic polymer electrolyte complexes from PEO/PVP doped with inorganic ionic compound and currently trending nanoparticles.