The effect of ZrO2-g-poly(methyl acrylate-co-maleic anhydride) on the performance of polyacrylonitrile gel polymer electrolyte in lithium ion batteries†

Novel porous blend membranes of polyacrylonitrile/ZrO₂-g-poly(methyl acrylate-co-maleic anhydride) (PAN/ZMPMAM) with a honeycomb-like morphology were prepared and used as gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) for applications in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The ZMPMAM nanocomposites were synthesized in multiple steps. First, ZrO₂ nanoparticles were functionalized with methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS), a silane coupling agent. Then, poly(methyl acrylate-co-maleic anhydride) (PMAM) copolymers were grafted from ZrO₂ nanoparticles in different compositions. PAN-based composite membranes were prepared with different mass ratios through the vapor-induced phase inversion (VIPS) technique. The prepared GPEs exhibited an electrolyte uptake, ionic conductivity, and lithium-ion transference number (t_Li⁺) of 590%, 2.74 mS cm⁻¹, and 0.76, respectively. The cathode was successfully prepared, and the lithium-ion battery was assembled and tested. The assembled Li/GPE/LiFePO₄ half-cells revealed a discharge capacity of 157 mA h g⁻¹ at 1C. Electrochemical studies showed that all the PAN-based blend membranes remained stable even at voltages above 5 V. The GPEs prepared in this work demonstrate suitable performance for applications in LIBs.