Films of a new ion conducting polymer electrolyte based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) complexed with Mg(NO3)2 salt have been prepared by a solution-casting technique. The solvation of the salt with PEO has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. dc conductivity and transference number measurements have been done to investigate the order of conductivity and the charge transport in this polymer electrolyte. The transference number measurements have shown that the charge transport in this electrolyte is predominantly due to ions (tion ≈ 0.96). The order of conductivity is found to increase with an increase in the concentration of the salt in the polymer and also with an increase of temperature. Using this electrolyte, an electrochemical cell has been fabricated and its discharge characteristics have been studied for different loads. The results show that Mg polymeric electrolytes offer an interesting alternative to lithium systems for RT solid state battery systems.

A new silver ion conducting polymer electrolyte based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) complexed with AgNO3 has been prepared using solution-cast technique. IR, electrical conductivity and transference number measurements have been performed to characterize the polymer electrolyte. The transport number measurements have shown that the electrolyte is a mixed (ionic + electronic) conductor, the charge transport being mainly due to ionic (tion ∼- 0.94). Using the electrolyte, an electrochemical cell with the configuration AgPVP + AgNO3(I2 + C + electrolyte) has been fabricated and its discharge characteristics studied. The open circuit voltage (OCV) and short circuit current (SCC) observed for the cell are 460 mV and 65 μA respectively. A number of other cell parameters evaluated are also reported.

The substitution of divalent calcium in the bismuth cuprates changes the carrier density (variation of T(c)) and allows, at the same time, to study the interplay between magnetic phenomena and superconductivity. We report results obtained after substitution by dysprosium (a strongly magnetic element) and by cerium (which may have different behaviours depending on its oxidation state). Solubility domains and texturation phenomena are also reported.

The substitution of divalent calcium in the bismuth cuprates changes the carrier density (variation of T~) and allows, at the same time, to study the interplay between magnetic phenomena and superconductivity. We report results obtained after substitution by dysprosium (a strongly magnetic element) and by cerium (which may have different behaviours depending on its oxidation state). Solubiiity domains and texturation phenomena are also reported.