Fabrication of cellulose-based polymer electrolyte membrane with green solvent DMSO via N-TIPS technique

Solid polymer electrolyte membrane for Li-ion battery was fabricated via N-TIPS technique. To substitute commercially available polyolefin-based separator with more sustainable source, cellulose-based membrane was employed as polymer matrix. Green solvent dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was used to replace conventional solvents. Impedance measurement using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed to determine ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Room temperature ionic conductivity of the membrane in CR2032 battery cell was 1.1×10-4 mS/cm, indicating good performance and feasibility for Li-ion battery application. This result is hundred times higher compared to cellulose-based membrane fabricated via similar route using conventional N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent (1.38×10-6 S/cm). Further dielectric properties measurement using temperature variation in an enclosed chamber showed that the polymer electrolyte membrane obeys Arrhenius behaviour.