Li-ion conducting organic-inorganic hybrid electrolytes

Lithium ion conducting, sol-gel derived, amorphous, organic-inorganic hybrid electrolytes were obtained from tetraethoxysilane, poly(ethylene oxide), propylene oxide, propylene carbonate, acetonitrile and LiClO4 precursors, and were investigated for their morphological and structural properties by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. A room-temperature conductivity of ca. 10-4-10-3 Sźcm-1, attributed to an amorphous character and the organic addition, as well as results of testing in WO3-based electrochromic thin-film systems, make the hybrid materials obtained promising as electrolytes for ambient temperature electrochemical and optoelectronic applications.