Solid polymer electrolyte system, Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) complexed with potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) salt has been prepared by solution-cast technique. Several experimental techniques such as IR, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), composition dependence conductivity, temperature dependence conductivity in the temperature range of 308-368 K and transport number measurements have been employed to characterize this polymer electrolyte system. The conductivity of the (PEO+KHCO3) electrolyte is about 103 times larger than that of pure PEO at room temperature. The transference data has shown that the charge transport in these polymer electrolyte systems is predominantly due to ions.

The research and development of polymer electrolytes for room temperature and the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have always been very popular. The ionic conductivity in high molecular weight Polyethylene Oxide (PEO) doped with sodium and potassium salts were first reported by Wright, 1975. The technological implications of these PEO based electrolytes, such as their use in lithium batteries were realized and suggested by Armand et al., 1979. These reports led to significant research activities around the world in the last 20 years. Exploratory investigations, prototype developments and fundamental issues related to these solid electrolytes have been reported in reviews by many researchers (Mac Callum and Vincent, 1981; and Gray, 1987).

In general, the polymer component of PEO based composite electrolyte is a mixture of crystalline and amorphous phases, ratio of which depends to a great extent on compositions of the electrolyte, temperature and thermal history. The solid polymer electrolytes i.e., polymer salt complexes are of technological interest due to their possible application as solid electrolytes in different devices such as energy conversion units (batteries/fuel cells), electro chromic display devices/smart windows and photo-electrochemical solar cells, etc.(Reitmon et al., 1985; Armand, 1986; Ratner and Shriver, 1988; and Sreepathi Rao et al., 1995)). Subsequently studies on PEO-based polymer electrolyte complexes using alkali salts (Wagner et al., 1957; Sreepathi Rao et al., 1995; and Jaipal Reddy et al., 2000) are developed in this field.

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