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Isotropic and anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) were prepared using spherical carbonyl iron (CI) particles and electrolyte non-spherical iron (EI) particles having a 60% weight fraction in silicon rubber. The pre-structured MREs were prepared under a constant magnetic field of 0.3 Tesla. A parallel-plate MR rheometer with a magneto-rheological cell was used to conduct dynamic measurements under different normal forces. All the data were recorded under 1 Hz frequency and strain amplitude of 0.1% (in the linear viscoelastic region), and normal force was varied from 1N to 10 N. Results show that the magnetic-induced shear modulus increases in both MREs with normal force for isotropic as well as anisotropic samples. However, in CIP-based MRE, the MR effect increases with a pre-structured sample, whereas for EIP-based pre-structured MRE, the MR effect decreases compared to isotropic samples. Nevertheless, the relative MR (RMR) effect decreases with normal force in both cases. The rate of decrease is different in CIP- and EIP-based MREs. A possible mechanism for the same is discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As synthesized surface active ionic liquids (SAILs), Tetrapropylammonium Dodecylsulfate (TPADS), and Tetrabutylammonium Dodecylsulfate (TBADS) have been characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. Conductometric and UV-Visible probe investigations have been attempted to study the aggregation behavior of these synthesized SAILs in aqueous solution of polymers Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) at different temperatures and concentrations. Two breaking points were identified from κ vs [SAILs] plots. First, the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) is recognized with the polymer-SAILs binding and the second being regarded as critical micellar concentration (CMC), suggested to represent saturation point for Polymer-SAIL aggregation. Thermodynamic parameters of micellization (Δ G m o , Δ H m o and Δ S m o) are rationalized in terms of interactions prevailing between hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of SAIL-Polymer system. Micellization process for the blend of SAIL-PVP is found to be more favored than SAIL-PEG at all temperatures. Further, the effect of PVP on the antimicrobial activities of TPADS/TBADS has been tested by measuring zone of inhibition which accounts for higher effectiveness of PVP-SAILs system against gram positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) as compared to gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolyte blends with varied compositions of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) in 10/90, 50/50, and 90/10 compositions have been successfully prepared by means of the solution cast technique at room temperature. The modification of the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the prepared blend samples was studied by employing XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, and electrical impedance spectroscopy methods. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the crystalline nature gradually transforms into amorphous as the Na-CMC content increases in the sample. The variation of bands noticed in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscope characteristic spectrum of the blends reveals the formation of complexes between the individual polymers. The analysis of optical properties using a UV-Vis spectrometer in the wavelength range of 900–1100nm, shows a gradual decrease in the optical indirect energy band gap with an increase in Na-CMC content in the blend. The study of the electrical properties of the blend carried out in the frequency range 50 Hz–1MHz and temperature range 303K–338K, using an electrical impedance analyzer reveals that, the dielectric constant and loss decrease with the rise in frequency, exhibiting the usual behavior of the polymers. AC conductivity is found to increase with an increase in temperature. The highest value of ionic conductivity is found to be 6.06 × 10−3Scm−1 for the blend with a 10/90 composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing Solid-State Electrolytes (SSEs) exhibiting high ionic conductivity and high mechanical/thermal stability is the main concern for developing next-generation rechargeable batteries. Here we present the successful synthesis of colorless, transparent, and bubble-free phosphate glasses with high lithium-ion electrical conductivity within the system xLiCl–(1–x)(63Li2WO4–37P2O5) with 0 ≤ x ≤ 30 mol%. The structural study is performed using Raman spectroscopy. Electrical conductivity measurements of the glasses are investigated over a large frequency range at various temperatures using impedance spectroscopy. It is found that the electric conductivity increases with increasing lithium chloride content. The dc conductivity reaches 2.76 × 10−6 (Ω−1.cm−1) at room temperature (RT) for the glass (x = 30 mol%). The frequency dependence of the conductivity is investigated and the scaling of the conductivity spectra shows that the conduction mechanism in the glasses is both temperature and composition-independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the phase separation of triton X-100 (TNX-100) and cephradine monohydrate (CPM) drug (a first-generation cephalosporin family drug) mixture was studied in aqueous and in various aq. electrolytes (Na and K-based salts) media. As compared to the water environment, TNX 100 + CPM system demonstrated lower magnitudes of CP values in electrolytes solution. The outcomes exhibited dwindling CP values are: MCl < M2CO3 < M2SO4; (M = Na, K). Moreover, the $ \Delta H_c^0 $ Δ H c 0 (enthalpy change), $ \Delta G_c^0 $ Δ G c 0 (free energy change) and $ \Delta S_c^0 $ Δ S c 0 (entropy change), compensation temperature ( $ {T_c} $ T c ) and intrinsic enthalpy gain $ (\Delta H_c^{0,\ast }) $ (Δ H c 0 , ∗) were also computed in the circumstances of TNX 100 + CPM mixture in water and aq. electrolytes media. The values of $ \Delta G_c^0 $ Δ G c 0 were obtained to be positive demonstrating the non-spontaneity of the process. The $ \Delta H_c^0 $ Δ H c 0 and $ \Delta S_c^0 $ Δ S c 0 values were positive in aq. medium and negative in aq. salts solutions where the magnitudes $ \Delta H_c^0 $ Δ H c 0 and $ \Delta S_c^0 $ Δ S c 0 values decreased with the growing contents of TNX 100/salts. The results suggest that the interaction forces between TNX 100 and CPM in a water environment are hydrophobic in nature with π–π interactions whereas in aq. salts media the recommended forces are hydrophobic and exothermic forces along with π–π interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) with nanoparticles (NPs) of varied dimensions and properties to form LC-NP nanocomposites with improved electro-optic and dielectric properties has recently been a much-explored field of work. But still, NLC nanocomposites based on two-dimensional (2D) NPs have not been studied vividly because of the high tendency of 2D NPs to aggregate together. In the present work, we have studied the effect of incorporating hexadecanethiol functionalised graphene oxide (fGO), a 2D NP, in a conventional NLC medium under varying doping concentrations. We found that at a lower doping concentration (⁓10−4 wt.%), the NLC nanocomposite showed a substantial increase in dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and birefringence (Δµ) values as compared to pure NLC sample. A significant decrease (⁓50%) in ionic conductivity as well as reduced electro-optic response time (⁓75%) was also observed in this NLC nanocomposite. As the fGO doping concentration was increased (⁓10−2 wt.%), a reverse trend was observed for Δε, Δµ and response time values, which declined sharply with increasing doping concentration. Hence, the present work highlights two different working mechanisms at low- and high-doping concentrations of 2D NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are key core materials in water electrolysis, requiring both high conductivity and good dimensional stability and chemical durability. In this work, a series of poly(biphenyl piperidinium) AEMs with side octadecyl groups (Q18PBP-x) are prepared through the superacid catalyzed polymerization and grafting reactions. The long hydrophobic alkyl side chains attached onto the ether-free backbone effectively improve the dimensional stability, chemical durability and ionic conductivity of the obtained AEMs at high temperature. At 80 °C, the water absorption and swelling rate of Q18PBP-30 membrane with IEC of 2.28 mmol g−1 are 47.8 and 10.8%, respectively. Its ionic conductivity is 79.4 mS cm−1 and only decrease by 6.9% after 480 h of immersion in 2 M NaOH at 80 °C. The current density of water electrolyzer assembled with representative Q18PBP-30 membrane reaches 0.53 A cm−2 in 2 M KOH at 2.1 V, and its voltage fluctuation of durability testing is only 15.8% after 480 h at the current density of 300 mA cm−2. These results suggest that grafting long hydrophobic alkyl chains on the backbone of AEMs is a promising strategy to enhance their properties for water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been significant interest in the development of high-performance electroactive ionic actuators that possess biocompatible, biodegradable, and bio-friendly characteristics for use in human-attachable electronics. However, research on biopolymer-based soft actuators has been relatively limited due to challenges such as the low ionic conductivity of biopolymers, difficulty in processing to achieve desired functionalities, and improper mechanical stiffness. Therefore, in this study, an electrospun silk membrane coated with sulfonated chitosan, in which membrane exhibits stable mechanical and electrochemical properties due to its interdigitated structures, is utilized to realize high-performance ionic biopolymer actuators. In particular, the introduction of sulfonated chitosan-ionic liquid on electrospun silk lowers the mechanical stiffness and increases the ionic conductivity, resulting in the provision of ion pathways through the interdigitated silk-chitosan domain. On bare electrospun silk membrane, the ionic electrospun silk-sulfonated chitosan actuators with graphene-PEDOT:PSS electrodes show a 165% increase in bending performance compared to those with only PEDOT:PSS electrodes. The developed biopolymer actuator, which shows substantial improvement in actuation performance, can be a promising candidate for use in skin-attachable and biomedical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid Electrolytes (SOE) with high ionic conductivity highly desirable in order to improve the efficiency of SOFCs at lower functioning temperature range) (350–500 °C). Triple perovskite Ba3SrNb2O9 based proton ion conductor have up-and-coming to enhance ionic conductivity at Low temperature range (LT) (350–500 °C). With this motivation we have successfully synthesized Ba3SrNb2O9 (BSNO) by solgel combustion method. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the formation of Triclinic crystal structure having space group P1, having lattice dimensions (a = 5.89340 Å, b = 5.88760 Å, c = 7.27360 Å). Rietveld Refinement of XRD data was carried out to get detail structural information by Full-Prof suite software. Electrical performance of the BSNO system were systematically studied by Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy at functioning temperature 350–500 °C with interval of 50 °C. BSNO system exhibit conductivity of the order of 5.8 × 10−3 Scm−1 at 500 °C with the activation energy of the range of 0.48 eV. Charge Relaxations phenomenon very systematically explored by impedance loss spectra and it is very correlate with Modulus (M") as a function of frequency at several temperatures which used to clarify the charge relaxation dynamics in proton ion conducting BSNO material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a modified sol-gel method was employed to synthesize Gd and W co-doped La2Mo2O9 (LMX). The impact of Gd and W co-doping on the pristine LMX lattice was examined using X-Ray diffraction, and the local structural parameters were analyzed through Rietveld refinement. The findings indicate that both the pure and co-doped LMX samples possess a cubic structure with a P213 space group. To investigate the electrical performance of the lanthanum molybdate (La2Mo2O9) both in its pure form and when co-doped with Gd and W, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was conducted. The results demonstrated that co-doping enhances the conductivity of oxy-ions compared to pure LMX. Specifically, La1.7Gd0.3Mo1.7W0.3O9 (LMXG3) exhibited a higher ionic conductivity of approximately 2 x 10−2 Scm−1 at a temperature of 650 °C, surpassing the conductivity of the pure LMX sample and other co-doped LMX samples. This investigation highlights the potential of the Gd and W co-doped LMX system as a solid electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium subrogated lanthanum strontium manganite LSMO (La0.5Sr0.5Mn1-xTixO3; Ti ratio = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) nanoparticles have been prepared based on an organic acid precursor pathway using glycine-nitrate as a fuel. The effectuation of Ti4+ ion concentration on the crystallo-aspects, microstructure as well as the optical features was scrutinized. Exemplary, orthorhombic perovskite LSMTO with a space group Pbnm were manifested at low annealing temperature 800 °C for period 2h. Further, insertion of Ti4+ ion instead of Mn4+ ion in LSMO commenced to increment the crystallite size from 14 to 24 nm. The FT-IR spectrum demonstrated that band around 600 cm−1 linked to Mn-O become broad imputed to Ti-O stretching modes. The morphology of all samples presented the spherical clusters with enhancing the grain size by incorporation of Ti4+ ion into the LSMO crystal. Band gap energy with boost of Ti4+ ion weight ratio was found to augment from 1.83 to 2.1 eV. Meanwhile, the refractive index was found to slightly minify from 2.78 to 2.66. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric single chloride-ion conductor networks based on acrylic imidazolium chloride ionic liquid monomers AACXImCYCl as reported previously are prepared. The chemical structure of the polymers is varied with respect to the acrylic substituents (alkyl spacer and alkyl substituent in the imidazolium ring). The networks are examined in detail with respect to the influence of the chemical structure on the resulting properties including thermal behavior, rheological behavior, swelling behavior, and ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivities increase (by two orders of magnitude from 10−6 to 10−4 S·cm−1 with increasing temperature), while the complex viscosities of the polymer networks decrease simultaneously. After swelling in water for 1 week the ionic conductivity reaches values of 10−2 S·cm−1. A clear influence of the spacer and the crosslinker content on the glass transition temperature was shown for the first time in these investigations. With increasing crosslinker content, the Tg values and the viscosities of the networks increase. With increasing spacer length, the Tg values decrease, but the viscosities increase with increasing temperature. The results reveal that the materials represent promising electrolytes for batteries, as proven by successful charging/discharging of a p(TEMPO-MA)/zinc battery over 350 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Single Event Upset (SEU) characterization on the partially depleted (PD) Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) SRAMs manufactured by 0.5/0.35 μm CMOS technology has been studied by using the experimental accelerator's testing and Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that, in spite of the good consistent between the simulated data and experimental testing, one notable phenomenon is that, linear energy transfer (LET) as the input has no manifest influence on the saturation of SEU cross-section. This non-negligible trend led us to use the term ion velocity instead of LET. The characteristics of ion velocity have certainly been proved by the experiment, while the unsimilar results are found for the simulation with no any difference from the SEU cross-section. Consequently, a more straightforward calculation in the deposited energy within sensitive volume (SV) has performed by inspecting directly into the underlying mechanism of the undetected energy loss. The loss of deposited energy has been obtained in the assumption that the heavy ions strike on the hypothetical device at oblique incidence. The unexpected energy loss resulted from incident ions at oblique incidence as edge effect indicates the importance of quantifying the efficiency of energy collection with respect to the dimensions of SV, including the variance of surface area and thickness. It is illustrated that the deposited energy induced by heavy ions on the condition of changeable surface area has more sensitivity on the incident angle and ionic characterization compared with those for the SV of variable thicknesses. Moreover, it is obtained that the fractional changes of deposited energy within the SVs of different thicknesses present a saturating trend, which can be accelerated by the increment of incident angle, and this evidence would be helpful for deeply comprehending why the implicit inaccuracy of the SEU saturated cross-section happened under the metrics of LET or ion velocity. Ultimately, the dependence of deposited energy on the surface area and thickness is further explored and discussed based on the geometrical property and radial track profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have been recognized as a preferable alternative to liquid electrolytes for energy storage application. However, low conductivity of SPEs has restricted their application. This issue can be overcome by adding controlled amount of dopant salt to the SPEs. In this work, various concentration of ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) salt was incorporated into dextran using solution cast technique in order to study the effect of NH4SCN on electrical properties, crystallite size, morphology and ionic conductivity. Results from Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirm the coordination of cation of salt at the OH and C-O-C groups of dextran. Deconvolution of the FTIR band between 2015 and 2090 cm−1 was performed to investigate the ion association and dissociation phenomena. It is confirmed that the ion mobility and diffusion are directly proportional to the ionic conductivity. Based on the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) result, an optimum ionic conductivity of (3.18 ± 1.19) × 10−4 S cm−1 was achieved with the sample containing 40 wt.% salt concentration. The conductivity result can be clarified by the crystallite size obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid polymer electrolytes were prepared using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), ethylene carbonate (EC), lithium trifluoroethane-sulfonate (LiTf), magnesium trifluoro-methanesulfonate (MgTf2). The ionic conductivity was measured at 30 °C as 6.17 × 10−6 and 1.83 × 10−4 S cm−1, respectively. The ionic mobility (μ), charge carrier diffusion coefficient (D) and the ion number density (n) of the samples have been calculated to understand the effect of these parameters on the ionic conductivity. The experimentally obtained values of Z r and Z i are compared with theoretical calculations. The PMMA-EC-MgTf2 sample exhibits higher dielectric constant compared to PMMA-EC-LiTf. The MgTf2 containing sample also exhibits a higher transference number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-based spincrossover (SCO) molecular complexes have shown to exhibit spincrossover behavior when subjected to stimuli such as heat, light and pressure. In a previous work, solutions of Fe-based spincrossover (SCO) molecular complexes with increasing ligand length, CnH2n+1NH2 (n = 12, 14, 16) of Fe(L12)2](BF4)2, [Fe(L14)2](BF4)2, and [Fe(L16)2](BF4)2, have shown to produce ultrahigh Seebeck coefficients when subjected to a temperature gradient. In this work, these three compounds are dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and subjected to temperature dependent Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometry. This optical characterization method was used to provide a correlation between the ligand length of the SCO complex and the bandgap energy measured. Subsequently, these findings were also triangulated with the effect of the ligand length on ionic conductivity and the Seebeck voltage. This work thus provides a systematic molecular understanding of the optical and electronic characteristics of SCO complexes, which paves the way for molecular design strategies in utilization of SCO for applications such as energy conversion and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present, the concentration-dependent solvation structure and dynamics of an ammonium nitrate (AN) ion pair in aqueous media by means of classical molecular dynamics simulations. Structural properties were investigated by computing the potentials of mean force (PMFs), radial distribution functions (RDFs), cluster size distribution functions, and hydrogen bond dynamics. The change in the depth of the contact ion pair (CIP) and solvent-separated ion pair minima (SSIP) is marginal, whereas for the solvent-assisted ion pair (SAIP) is more stable at lower salt concentrations. The marginal difference in the depth of the CIP minimum of the PMF is explained based on cluster size distribution and hydrogen bonding. The solvation structure of the ions is not affected by the salt concentration. Ab-initio and classical molecular dynamics simulations (both constrained and unconstrained) give similar results for the solvation structure around the cation and the anion. The spatial density distribution functions of the anions around the cations show that the anions occupy the space around the ammonium hydrogen atoms. Profound differences in dynamical properties are found in the case of concentrated solutions as compared to dilute solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel phase was fabricated using a liquid crystal medium, and its feasibility as an ion-conducting material was explored. The intermediate phase comprised a strong polar compound and a low-molecular-weight nematogen, which was insoluble in the compound. Nanoscale phase segregation occurred between the host nematogen and guest polar compound upon dispersing a small amount of the polar compound into the nematogen. This nano-segregated phase was characterized through polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the ionic conductivity of the nano-segregated phase was qualitatively evaluated by voltage holding ratio measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PAAm-PAA) based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) containing potassium iodide (KI) have been prepared. The complexation between PAAm-PAA and KI has been identified through the position changes at the asymmetric NH2 stretching and CH2 stretching; and the intensities changes at the amide (C = O, C-N) and carboxylate (COO-) bands using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. PAAm-PAA film exhibits a room temperature (RT) ionic conductivity of (8.8 ± 0.8) × 10−11 S·cm−1 which increases to maximum at (4.0 ± 0.5) × 10−7 S·cm−1 with 45 wt.% KI addition. The conductivity-temperature dependence studies of all samples followed the Arrhenius rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formulation of a hybrid gel polymer electrolyte (HGPE) system comprising of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polylactic acid (PLA) as a hybrid host polymer doped with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) has been successfully prepared in this study with the introduction of an ionic liquid, namely 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to investigate the structural features of HGPEs. The FTIR analysis revealed that the complexation changes the peak intensity at region C = O stretching, CH2 bending, and C-O stretching. Meanwhile, XRD showed that the addition of EMIMCl altered the HGPE properties and formed an amorphous structure. The prepared HGPE sample was examined for ionic conduction properties through electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It shows that by adding an EMIMCl to the PMMA-PLA-LiTFSI HGPE has decreased the activation energy (Ea) and increased the ionic conductivity. The sample containing 15 wt.% has the lowest Ea value of 0.057 eV and the highest ionic conductivity at room temperature of 3.20 10−3 S cm−1. The itemperature dependence was studied in the temperature range from 303 K to 393 K, the HGPE systems were found to follow Arrhenius behavior. The effect of EMIMCl content had decreased the viscosity of HGPEs which led to the gel-like type behavior. The potential windows stability analysis revealed that the highest conducting sample was electrochemically stable up to 3.3 V versus Li/Li+, thus showing that the present electrolytes are promising to be applied as in Li-ions battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the complexation of methylcellulose (MC) with tri-potassium phosphate (K3PO4) is investigated using an ultrasonication-assisted solution cast process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that varying concentrations of K3PO4 salt (7–35 wt.%) disrupt the crystalline segment of the MC host matrix. The considerable shift in the intensity and orientation of the Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) transmittance bands indicate the establishment of a charge-transfer entanglement between the polymer host and the dispersed salt. The optimum sample (28 wt.%) exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 1.74 × 10−5 S cm−1, potential stability of 3.48 V, and a cation transference number (ti) of 0.945. These findings show the relevance of the developed SPEs for possible application in electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the transport properties and morphology through tunneling structures were investigated, where the rough In2S3 thin films are the interfaces of these structures. In2S3 thin films were doped experimentally with Copper (Cu) and their morphology was studied by using the atomic force microscopic images at different temperatures (30, 55, 70, and 85 ° C). The results show that conductivity of the samples is strongly influenced by Cu doping content at different temperatures. Also, the transmission probability and current density of these samples were investigated numerically. The results show the maximum scattering component of transmission probability at temperature 30 ° C , for In2S3 thin films and 70 ° C , for CuIn2S3 thin films. By the results, increasing of the [Cu/In] molar ratios will lead to an increase in the transmission probability and current density of these thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the transport mechanism of Li+ in solid polymer electrolytes is beneficial for improving the safety and energy density of lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we investigate the effects of chain length of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and anions (TfO-, TFSI-, PFSI-) on ion transport properties in PEO-lithium salt systems using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the Li+ and PEO monomers are co-diffusion, regardless of the PEO chain length and the type of anion. The diffusion of Li+ becomes slower with PEO chain length and reaches an asymptotic value. In addition, the motion of the Li+ is the slowest in PEO/LiTfO systems. We conclude that the free volume of the systems plays a decisive role in the transport properties of Li+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ethylene oxide) has been intercalated inside the interlayer galleries of montmorillonite clay and the electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite have been investigated. Interlayer spacing and clay gallery width increase with increasing MMT concentration confirming intercalation of PEO into MMT as observed from XRD results. The fraction of free anions as calculated from FTIR, increases with increasing clay content and remains constant beyond 7.5 wt. % of clay content. Ionic conductivity of the order of 10−4 Scm−1 has been obtained in the case of MMT based electrolytes. The initial increase of conductivity with increasing MMT content can be attributed to the increase fraction of free ions which eventually increases ionic conductivity. After 7.5 wt. % of MMT loading ionic conductivity decreases due to the high viscosity of MMT. Interfacial stability results show that passivation takes place very slowly in MMT based electrolytes. Dielectric properties show that at high frequency relaxation takes place due to the segmental motion of polymer chains and it proves the hopping of ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a theoretical study of the near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) between two β -GeSe monolayers, each at a different temperature. (This is a relevant 2D material with superior electron transport and optical properties compared to black-phosphorus monolayers). The required optical conductivity of the monolayer is calculated using density functional theory including spin-orbit coupling, and using the Perdew-Burke-Erzenhof parametrization. Both the intra and interband transitions are taken into account, as well as the contribution of the optical phonons. This allows us to obtain more realistic predictions of the NFRHT between two monolayers of GeSe. The role of the electron doping concentration and the plasma relaxation frequency is investigated, showing a non-monotonic dependence on the radiative heat transfer with increasing doping, and having an optimal doping where the heat flux is maximize. A strong optical anisotropy in the electric conductivity is obtained from the contribution of both electrons and ions This anisotropy is explored, showing that the relative rotation of two monolayers results in modulation of the NFRHT much larger than previously found for similar 2D materials, like α -GeSe. As the angle of rotation between the monolayers increases the total heat transfer decreases. Our analysis demonstrates the relevance of properly taking into account the materialelectronic and ionic contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary electrolyte additives have captivated the attention of researchers since additives were reported to play a very crucial role in supporting the formation of an effective solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) in the case of silicon if used as an anode. The choice of a good solvent with additives demonstrates a significant impact on the solvation and diffusivity of lithium ions. Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and Vinylene carbonate (VC) were extensively used additives for increasing the lifespan of Li-ion batteries (LIBs). In the current study, structural, dynamical, and transport properties of six different systems were investigated by applying classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The properties obtained from the simulations suggested system E consisting of DMC, 1M LiPF 6 , and 10% FEC, to be the best medium for the electrolytes for LIBs, since the diffusion coefficient of Li + ions and ionic conductivity of LiPF 6 were estimated to be of high values for the system E. However, before the evaluation of the transport properties, the structural properties in terms of radial distribution functions and spatial distribution functions were evaluated for DMC molecules with reference to DMC, Li + , and PF 6 − ions. The structure data were also found to be in fair agreement with experimental and previous simulation results reported so far. Based on the finding of this study, it was suggested that DMC as a solvent with a 10% FEC additive could be considered a good medium for electrolytes for the improved performance of LIBs compared to VC as an additive to DMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of the vacancy formation in crystals has been extended by generalising the vacancy formation energy that depends on the number of vacancies resulting from thermal activation. This extension enables to describe the freezing of defect concentrations at lower temperature, while the derived vacancy concentration reduces to the Boltzmann–Arrhenius law at higher temperature. The implications of the low-temperature patterns and its relevance to non-equilibrium process in the defect concentrations have been also touched upon. In addition, based on the approach explored, we further construct a model for the ionic conductivity in the intrinsic and extrinsic regions, which is formulated by focusing on the relation between the number concentration and the mobility of ionic charge carriers. A theoretical background to the continuity (knee) across which the both ionic conductivity patterns are smoothly connected is corroborated by the present work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to simultaneously improve the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties is a key problem facing currently used anion-exchange membranes (AEMs). Here, novel AEMs were prepared using quaternized bacterial cellulose (QBC) as a dual-functional substrate and then filled with a polymeric ionic liquid (poly(vinylbenzyl) trimethylammonium chloride, PVD) with high ion-exchange capacity through in situ polymerization and crosslinking. The dense quaternary ammonium groups grafted on the surface of BC nanofibers greatly increased the ionic conductivity, while the special three-dimensional network structure of BC significantly enhanced the tensile strength and chemical stability of the obtained PVD filled quaternized BC (QBC/PVD) membranes. The ionic conductivity of QBC/PVD membrane reached as high as 111 mS cm−1 at 80°C, which was 109% higher than that of the pure BC/PVD membrane (only 53 mS cm−1). Moreover, the QBC/PVD membrane exhibited extremely high dry strength of 72.3 MPa and satisfactory wet strength and flexibility, this membrane can hang a container containing 500 g of water when at fully hydrated state. The alkaline direct methanol fuel cell equipped with QBC/PVD output a peak power density of 64 mW cm−2, showing its great application potential as an AEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Co-doped Na3V2-xTix(PO4)2F3(NVTPF x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.7) sodium ion battery anode material was prepared by one-step hydrothermal method and it was coated with graphene. The crystal structure and morphology of NVTPF cathode material were characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The results show that the particle diameter of the sample becomes smaller and the shape gradually becomes regular with the increase of Ti doping amount. The graphene coating did not change the crystal structure of NVTPF, but it was helpful to improve its electrochemical performance. The substitution of Ti4+ for V3+ contributes to improve the electronic conductivity and diffusion coefficient of sodium ions, reduce the charge transfer impedance, and accelerate the reaction kinetics of NVTPF electrode, thus significantly improving the cycling stability of NVTPF electrode. Among the four groups of materials, Na3v1.5Ti0.5(PO4)2F3 has the best electrochemical performance. At 1C, the specific capacity of initial discharge is 53.4 mAh/g, and the capacity retention rate of 35 cycles is 72.3%. The graphene coated NVTPF has a discharge capacity of 125.9mAh/g for the first cycle and 44.8mAh/g for 35 cycles at 1C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising nanomaterial, magnesium oxide (MgO) and a commonly studied nanomaterial, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) were used to enhance the thermal conductivity of two ionic liquids, i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([emim][DCa]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethanide ([emim][TCM]) of potential as heat transfer medium. Effects of nanoparticle material, size, shape as well as mass concentration on thermal conductivity enhancement were investigated experimentally, along with stability analysis of the nanoparticle suspensions. The thermal conductivity of [emim][TCM] can be enhanced by up to 40% by adding 15 wt.% of polyhedral MgO nanoparticles. The thermal conductivity of Al2O3 ionanofluids does not vary much with nanoparticle size while that of MgO ionanofluids tends to increase as the nanoparticle size decreases. The Maxwell-Garnett model and the Hamilton–Crosser model could estimate the thermal conductivity of [emim][DCa]-based nanofluids containing Al2O3 and MgO nanoparticles, respectively, while under-prediction prevailed for [emim][TCM]-based nanofluids. Besides, challenges were encountered during zeta potential measurements created by the ionic liquids themselves. New methods need to be developed to correctly measure the zeta potential of ionic liquid-based nanofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free 0.79(Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)-0.18(Bi0.5K0.5TiO3)-0.03(BiFeO3)-x(Li2O) (BNT-BKT-BF-xLi) piezoelectric ceramics, with x between 0 and 0.4 wt.%, were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. In all compositions, the samples were calcined at 800 °C for 2 h and sintered at 1100 °C for 2 h. The added Li2O affected the phase formation, microstructure, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the BNT-BKT-BF-Li ceramics were investigated. All ceramics exhibited coexisting rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. The rhombohedral phase and the average grain size increased with increase in x. All ceramics presented polygon grain shapes with anisotropic grain growth. The depolarization temperature and the maximum temperature (Td and Tm) continuously increased with increase in Li2O content. The maximum dielectric constant (εm) decreased from 6250 to 4868 when x increased from 0 to 0.4 wt.%. The P-E hysteresis loops had their squareness factor increase with rising x, indicating a harder ferroelectric was obtained with higher Li2O doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube (CNT), as a promising material to enhance electrical conductivity and ionic diffusivity, plays an indispensable role in improving the electrochemical performance of transition metal oxides. In this work, a novel core-shell structure of MnO2 coating on carbon nanotubes (MnO2@CNT) was successfully synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. The internal porous structure of CNT as core can facilitate the penetration of electrolyte while improving the electrical conductivity. The thin MnO2 nanosheets as shell can simultaneously achieve a large interaction area and rapid ion exchange. Benefitting from the synergistic effects, the MnO2@CNT shows an excellent capacitance of 386 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 with the content of MnO2 about 52 wt.%. In addition, the MnO2@CNT retains nearly 93.6% of its initial capacitance after 5000 cycles, indicating its excellent cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pristine and doped films of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA): poly (methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate)(MAA-EA) (50:50) blend with various weight percentages (5, 10 and 15 wt%) of sodium chloride (NaCl) (Na+ ions) were prepared by a simple solution casting method. Exhibiting a decrease in diffraction peak intensities with increasing weight percentage of NaCl salt content, X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated a decrease in crystallinity or less polymer blend. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a decreasing trend in melting temperature of the doped films compared with the pure films. From the optical absorption and conductivity studies, among the prepared samples, the film with 15 wt% NaCl showed minimum absorption edge, direct band gap and indirect band gap values of 4.02, 4.52, 3.54 eV, respectively, and the maximum ionic conductivity of 9.85 × 10−8 S/cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the synthesis and characterization of ionic liquids (ILs) and their application in the extraction of water in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions are presented. The ionic liquids were used to reduce attractive and repulsive electrostatic interactions at the water-oil interphase, and so to diminish the used energy used during the dehydration process of the crude oil. The ionic liquids were characterized by NMR, FTIR and by electrochemical methods. For the electrochemical characterization, a KCl and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) medium was used, which allows to know the redox behavior of the ionic liquids and their effect on the conductivity of the addition medium. In addition, through this characterization the effect on the W/O and O/W emulsions were observed, by reducing the resistivity of these and therefore increasing the ionic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid electrolyte based on lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) polymer was prepared for the application in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs). The electrolyte was optimised with varying content of 4-tert-butylpyridine (4TBP), guanidinium thiocyanate (GuCN), iodine and 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide (PMII) ionic liquid. Better cell performance was observed in solar cell devices with LiBOB-based electrolyte consisting of 36 wt.% of (I2 + 4TBP) and PMII ionic liquid. Such devices produce a maximum efficiency of 6.37% although with slightly lower fill factor. The better performance of DSSC with PMII inclusion in the electrolyte is attributed to the better ionic conductivity of the electrolyte. On the contrary, the addition of GuCN did not boost the performance of the cell. The effect and significance of the additives were explored in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, considerable researches are conducted to develop promising polymer electrolytes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we prepared poly(lithium acrylate) (PAALi)-based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) containing alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles. The addition of inorganic nanoparticles into the PAALi matrix can not only improve CPE's ionic conductivity ( σ D C ∼ 1.3 × 10 − 2 S / cm at 303 K), but also enhance CPE's mechanical properties due to the nanoparticles acting as cross-linkers between the PAALi chains. We systematically investigated the influences of inorganic nanoparticle types (pure alumina vs. vinyl functionalized alumina) and contents on ionic conduction and mechanical properties of PAALi-based CPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a prospective electrolyte for potassium-ion batteries, porous polymer electrolytic membranes were prepared based on poly (vinylidene difluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) by a solution cast method. The casting solution, effects of the solvent, non-solvent and addition of nanoscale TiO2 particles were investigated in this study. The membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results in the surface morphology and porous nature of the fabricated membrane. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis gives the crystalline phase of the TiO2 doped membrane. The FTIR confirms the different functional groups present in PVDF-co-HFP films. Electrochemical stability of the prepared PVDF-co-HFP-TiO2 was performed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The charge and discharge tests were conducted using the cyclic voltammetric analysis in this study. The addition of TiO2 particles to the polymer electrolyte was found to reduce the porousness of the PVDF-co-HFP membrane and to enhance the electrolyte uptake, ion conductivity and electrolyte/electrode interfacial stability of the membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive Lipschitz stability estimates for the Hausdorff distance of polygonal conductivity inclusions in terms of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dielectric response spectrum formula applicable to a medium with ionic conductivity is presented. An analytical expression for the ionic conductivity spectrum σ(ω) of a material with the vibration-diffusion particle motion is discussed. The residence time τR is introduced into the model to drive a non-zero static conductivity σ(0). A τR change within ∞-0 continuously transforms the vibrational σ(ω)-Lorentzian into the diffusion σ(ω)-Drude response of free independent particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-solid-state Li-ion batteries, have become increasingly important because of their highly reliable solid electrolyte materials. Flexible solid polyethylene oxide (PEO) based electrolytes have been widely studied. Nevertheless, this material exhibits low lithium-ion conductivity. Herein, we report the optimisation of the composition of PEO/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based electrolytes to enhance ionic conductivity. When the weight ratio of lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulphonyl)imide and PEO/PVDF is 1:5 (LiTFSI:PEO/PVDF = 1:5), maximum conductivities are 2.98 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 30°C and 5.56 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 60°C. Furthermore, the all-solid-state battery using this solid electrolyte film, a Li metal anode, and a LiFePO4 cathode delivers initial discharge capacities of 149.6 mAhg−1 (0.1 C, 60°C) and 130.2 mAh g−1 (0.5 C, 60°C). Meanwhile, the solid-state lithium battery also presents good cycling performance and excellent rate capability at 60°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, Nd, Nb co-doped La2Mo2O9 system is investigated to understand phase transition, ionic conductivity and dielectric relaxation phenomenon. X-ray diffraction study confirms order-disorder phase transition by disappearance of peak splitting of (231) in co-doped LMX system, which is associated with monoclinic phase and is observed for LMX-Pure at around 2θ = 47–48°. In co-doped system, two dielectric relaxation peaks are observed, which are associated with diffusion process between O(1)-O(2) and O(1)-O(3) oxygen ion ←→ vacancies sites, while diffusion process O(1)-O(3) is supposed to be occurred in parent system having single relaxation peak. Thus dielectric relaxation phenomenon indicates phase transition is proceeding with static-to-dynamic disorder transition. Electric modulus data are revealed to ascertain correlation of relaxation dynamics and oxy-ion conductivity in co-doped LMX system. The extracted data of activation energy of oxy-ion conductivity at intermediate temperature range (500–700 °C) of co-doped samples is found relatively lower than that of the parent sample. The study reveals that incorporation of Nd, Nb co-doped in LMX system successfully suppress the phase transition and enhanced ionic conductivity at intermediate temperature range and found suitable as electrolytes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gd-doped ceria (Ce0.90Gd0.1O2-δ) (GDC) nanorods were synthesized by microwave-assisted precipitation route. The morphology is confirmed by SEM and TEM and structure by XRD. Compaction and net-product development of the samples for electrical characterization, two modes of heating was used viz microwave (MS-GDC) and conventional (CS-GDC). After sintering, the microstructure of CS-GDC shows round shape grains of highly compacted pellet while MS-GDC sustains rod-shape microstructure of grains. Complex impedance spectra revealed that MS-GDC exhibits more ionic conductivity than CS-GDC and grain boundary effect is dominant over grain interior. To get more in-depth on influence of shape of grains on ion conducting mechanism; the dynamics of electrical processes are understood by charge relaxation process at grains and grains boundaries. Dielectric functions such as dielectric permittivity (ε'), loss tangent (tan δ) and electric modulus (M") are used to reveal charge relaxation time. The charge relaxation times are observed five orders higher in CS-GDC than MS-GDC. Ion association and migration energy are obtained lower in rod-shape grain. Grain shape influence on the activation energy can be speculated as one dimensional extension in rod-shape grain as compared to round grain gives rise to expansion in ordered structure of lattice and thus the ordering of oxygen vacancies within the grain. This results out (i) expansion of conduction pathway across the grain boundary, (ii) long range motion of oxygen vacancies in grains and (iii) shorten the relaxation time. This work identifies the potential of 1D nanostructure oxy-ion conductors; as promising electrolyte materials for ITSOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with high viscosity was employed as a polymeric binder to stick SiO2 nanoparticles onto the surfaces of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) separators prepared by a phase inversion method for Li-ion batteries. The morphology, wettability, thermal stability, ionic conductivity and electrochemical properties of the composite separators were analyzed. These results indicated that the SiO2 nanoparticles were firmly attached by the PVB binder and uniformly dispersed on the surfaces of the PVDF separator, so the SiO2-PVB coated PVDF separator exhibited significantly improved hydrophilicity and electrolyte wettability, and better thermal stability and ionic conductivity than those composed of PVDF only enhance. More importantly, the cell using the SiO2-PVB coated PVDF separator displayed a better cycling performance and higher discharge capacity rate capability, which indicated the SiO2-PVB coating could enhance the physical and electrochemical performance of PVDF separators used in Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are of great current interest as substitutes to conventional liquid type electrolytes. Although the SPEs significantly alleviate the safety issues of the lithium-ion batteries based on conventional liquid electrolytes, they intrinsically exhibit low ion conductivity. In this study, a bicontinuous solid polymer electrolyte containing polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane and a mixture of succinonitrile (SN) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide was prepared with different molarities of the lithium salt. Porous PAN membrane was fabricated via a thermally induced phase separation method (TIPS). The PAN-based SPE exhibited the maximum ionic conductivity of ∼5.0 × 10−3 S/cm at the salt molarity of 1.0 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands form part of a diverse range of habitats and play an important role in the ecology and hydrological cycle but are amongst the most threatened ecological systems. It is therefore critical to understand the hydrology of wetlands, and their contributing water sources in particular, to ensure appropriate management of these systems. Land use activities not only alter the runoff characteristics of catchments, but also often result in modified flow regimes in watercourses. Wetlands often develop accidentally in anthropogenic landscapes and are not uncommon. However, these wetlands are poorly documented and researched. An accidental wetland formed in the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, Rustenburg, due to leaking water infrastructure. The aim of this project was to categorise the wetland and confirm its origin, focussing on the role of the leakage. Methods included hydrogeomorphic classification, water ion composition analysis, as well as infield temperature and electrical conductivity measurements. Historical satellite imagery was used to study the evolution of the wetland over time. The electrical conductivity and ionic composition results suggest an unnatural water source, providing support that a leaking pipe caused the wetland to form. Management of accidental wetlands is discussed and the potential for future, related research is contemplated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite films were prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol – polyvinyl acetate copolymer (PVA/Ac) blended with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the host polymeric material and titania (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) as the filler, by using ultrasonic dispersion of the filler in PVA/Ac-PVP blend solution, followed by solution casting method. Free standing films of this composite were characterized by using powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric (TG) analysis, transference number determination, as well as DC and dielectric measurements. XRD patterns confirmed the incorporation of titania NPs within the polymer blend (PVA/Ac-PVP). DSC and TG techniques show that the glass transition temperature of the composite decreased, whereas its thermal stability increased on incorporating TiO2 NPs in PVA/Ac - PVP blend. Wagner's polarization technique, which was employed to determine the transference number revealed that ions were the majority mobile charge carriers. The activation energy (Ea) has been determined from DC electrical measurements by using the Arrhenius equation; Ea was found to decrease with an increase in the filler level (FL) of titania NPs in the polymeric blend. Dielectric studies revealed maximum ionic conductivities of 7.4 × 10−5 Sm−1 and 8.63 × 10−3 S m−1 for the composite film with FL 4.90 Wt%, at temperatures 303 K and 363 K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With very fast polymerization in mild reaction conditions and unique characteristic of double bonds in its synthesized polymer skeleton for further modification and functionalization, ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) becomes one typical processing method to obtain anion exchange membrane (AEM) for fuel cells. In this paper, AEMs prepared by ROMP are reviewed. Polycyclooctene and polynorbornene AEMs with both good stability and high conductivity are achieved with different ion exchange groups such as quaternary ammonium, phosphorus and metal cations (such as bis(terpyridine)-ruthenium(II) and cobaltocenium). Polymer structure and ion channels are mainly constructed in the polymer skeleton to form the "ion channel" microphase-separated structure to improve its chemical stability and ionic conductivity. On the basis of selected ion exchange groups and optimized polymer skeleton, performances obtained in these ion exchange membranes (IEMs) and their corresponding fuel cell performances are summarized. These polycyclooctene and polynorbornene AEMs have excellent properties and promising performances in fuel cells. We believe that further exploration of this class of AEM may lead to practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionogels is a kind of hybrid materials composed of ionic liquids (ILs) and solid polymer network matrix, has been extensively investigated in the most recent decade. Due to the excellent mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, their promising applications in flexible stress and strain sensors have been proposed and explosively developed. In this review, we briefly summarize research progresses on ionogel based flexible stress and strain sensors (IFSSs) from five aspects, including material synthesis, device fabrication, working principles, characteristics and performances, and potential applications. Some outlooks and perspectives are also proposed at the end of review. The review is expected to provide reference and new insights into the research of IFSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to prepare Er and Sm co-doped CeO2 electrolytes via the Pechini method and investigate the effects of simultaneous addition of Sm and Er on the structural and electrical features of CeO2. The structural, functional group analysis, microstructures, and electrical properties of the electrolyte samples are conducted by X–ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and impedance spectroscopy (IS). All the calcined and sintered electrolytes were obtained with cubic fluorite crystal structure without secondary oxide phases. After sintering at 1400 °C, highly dense electrolytes were achieved (> 90%). The IS measurements indicated that the highest ionic conductivity was observed for the singly doped Ce0.80Sm0.20O1.90 (σ750 °C = 3.86 x 10−2 S/cm) electrolyte. σ750°C was found to be 3.82 x 10−2, 1.73 x 10−2, 0.61 x 10−2 S/cm for Ce0.80Er0.05Sm0.15O1.90, Ce0.80Er0.10Sm0.10O1.90 and Ce0.90Er0.10O1.95, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, the relationship between the ionic conduction properties of alginate (AL) based biopolymer electrolyte (BE), and the amount of NH4Cl dopant and ethylene carbonate (EC) plasticizer is discussed. The BE was prepared via a solution casting method and characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The highest ionic conductivity attained for the AL-NH4Cl BE was 3.18 × 10−8 S cm−1 for 8 wt.% of NH4Cl. Nonetheless, an increased optimum value of 1.46 × 10−6 S cm−1 was obtained when plasticized with 4 wt.% of EC. It was observed that with the addition of the EC content between the range of 1 wt.% and 7 wt.% into the AL-NH4Cl with 8 wt.% salt content increased the flexibility of the AL chains to facilitate free H+ ion transport. The weak bonding created through EC - NH4+ allows higher dissociation of proton ions (H+), allowing more interaction to occur on the AL polymer backbone. These ions will hop from one complex site of AL to another, as revealed by FTIR analysis. Through the deconvolution analysis of the BE systems, it was demonstrated that the ionic conductivity for both systems was governed by the enhancement of the free ions fraction which, in turn, increased the number of mobile ions upon the addition of NH4Cl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]