In situ polymerization of organic-modified rectorite/poly(methyl methacrylate) gel polymer electrolyte

Organic-modified rectorite/poly(methyl methacrylate) (OREC/PMMA) gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was synthesized through in situ polymerization with a free radical initiator in a solution in which an organic plasticizer acted as the solvent. The influence of properties of nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte (NGPE) membranes with different methods of dispersing OREC was investigated. The microstructure of NGPE was characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope. The inductivity and the thermogravimetric temperature of 5% in mass (the same below) of the NGPE were tested. It is found that OREC layers are very fine exfoliated and dispersed well in the gel system. With the increase of the OREC, both the conductivity and the thermogravimetric temperature at 5% of the NGPE increased first, and then decreased. When the OREC is 5%, both the conductivity and the thermogravimetric temperature of 5% of the NGPE are more excellent than those of the gel polymer electrolyte without OREC.