Chapter 8
Polymer Nanocomposites: Synthesis
and Characterization
Anil Arya and A. L. Sharma
Contents
8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
8.2 Polymer Electrolytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
8.3 Materials and Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
8.3.1 Preparation Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
8.3.2 Characterization Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
8.4 Recent Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
8.4.1 Nanofiller Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
8.4.2 Nanoclay Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 291
8.4.3 Nanorod–Nanowire Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
8.4.4 Separator Development: Commercial and Patents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
8.5 Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Abstract This chapter presents the fundamental properties of polymer
nanocomposites (PNCs) and their characteristics that play a significant role in
deciding their capability for the advanced energy storage devices. The various
synthesization methods used for the preparation of polymer electrolytes are
described followed by the characterization techniques used for the analysis. The
properties of the polymer host, salt, nanofiller, ionic liquid, plasticizer, and
nanoclay–nanorod–nanowire are described. Various ion transport mechanisms
with different nanoparticle dispersions in polymer electrolytes are highlighted.
Various important results are summarized, and a pathway is built to fulfill the
dream of the future renewable source of energy that is economical and environmental benign. Chapter motivation is focused on the investigation of the role of polymer
host, aspect ratio, surface area, nanoparticle shape, and size in terms of boosting the
electrolytic–electrochemical properties of PNC. It will certainly help in order to open
new doors toward the development of advanced polymeric materials with overall
balancing property for enhancement of the fast solid-state ionic conductor which
would revolutionize the energy storage–conversion device technology.
A. Arya · A. L. Sharma (*)
Department of Physical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
e-mail: alsharma@cup.edu.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Dasgupta et al. (eds.), Environmental Nanotechnology Volume 4, Environmental
Chemistry for a Sustainable World 32, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26668-4_8
265
Polymer Nanocomposites: Synthesis
and Characterization
Anil Arya and A. L. Sharma
Contents
8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
8.2 Polymer Electrolytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
8.3 Materials and Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
8.3.1 Preparation Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
8.3.2 Characterization Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
8.4 Recent Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
8.4.1 Nanofiller Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
8.4.2 Nanoclay Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 291
8.4.3 Nanorod–Nanowire Dispersed Polymer Nanocomposites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
8.4.4 Separator Development: Commercial and Patents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
8.5 Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Abstract This chapter presents the fundamental properties of polymer
nanocomposites (PNCs) and their characteristics that play a significant role in
deciding their capability for the advanced energy storage devices. The various
synthesization methods used for the preparation of polymer electrolytes are
described followed by the characterization techniques used for the analysis. The
properties of the polymer host, salt, nanofiller, ionic liquid, plasticizer, and
nanoclay–nanorod–nanowire are described. Various ion transport mechanisms
with different nanoparticle dispersions in polymer electrolytes are highlighted.
Various important results are summarized, and a pathway is built to fulfill the
dream of the future renewable source of energy that is economical and environmental benign. Chapter motivation is focused on the investigation of the role of polymer
host, aspect ratio, surface area, nanoparticle shape, and size in terms of boosting the
electrolytic–electrochemical properties of PNC. It will certainly help in order to open
new doors toward the development of advanced polymeric materials with overall
balancing property for enhancement of the fast solid-state ionic conductor which
would revolutionize the energy storage–conversion device technology.
A. Arya · A. L. Sharma (*)
Department of Physical Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India
e-mail: alsharma@cup.edu.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Dasgupta et al. (eds.), Environmental Nanotechnology Volume 4, Environmental
Chemistry for a Sustainable World 32, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26668-4_8
265