Gel electrolytes prepared from oligo(ethylene glycol)dimethacrylate: glass transition, conductivity and Li +-coordination

The influence of two plasticizers, propylene carbonate and dimethyl sulphoxide, as well as different salt concentrations of Li(TFSI), on properties of a polymer gel electrolyte material has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ac impedance and FTIR spectroscopy. Variations of glass transition temperature and the conductivity behaviours of the systems were examined, and found to be highly dependent on the amount and type of the plasticizer used. Characteristic band-shifts in FTIR spectra, indicating coordination of lithium ions, have been found for the polymer and both the plasticizers in the corresponding binary solutions. These shifts were used to study the coordination preferences in the complete ternary electrolyte system. The combined results from the three experimental techniques have been discussed.