Insight on polymer electrolytes for electrochemical devices applications

Abstract

Polymer electrolytes (PEs) are of much attention as potential electrolytes of great technological relevance for solid-state electrochemistry, in particular for their possible practical application in devices such as batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, smart windows, sensors, and solar cells, among others. Generically, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are mixtures of salts with basic polymers, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or poly(ethylene imine) (PEI). However, there are also other polymers used as matrices for ionic conduction, like poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), or natural macromolecules. A brief description of theoretical aspects of different PEs and past and recent trends in development of these materials are presented in this chapter. SPEs have many advantages including high energy density, no risk of leakage, no deleterious issues related to the presence of solvent, wide electrochemical stability window, simplified processability, and light weight. Some examples of prototypes of electrochromic device (ECD), batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, sensors, dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and light emitting electrochemical cells are also presented and discussed in scope of this contribution.