Polymer Blend Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications

Abstract

A worldwide effort toward transition from an energy economy based on fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy sources has resulted in the utilization of renewable energy sources. Considering the intermittence of most carbon-neutral sources, there has been high demand for more efficient energy storage devices. With the development of wearable and flexible storage devices, liquid electrolyte-based technology has revealed its own limitations. Polymer electrolytes hence outperform, with their high mechanical, thermal, and physic-chemical properties coupled with their cost-effectiveness, safety aspects, and adaptability. Moreover, as polymer can be tailored by the blending technique, polymer blend electrolytes have received much attention for application in electrochemical energy storage (EES). This chapter highlights recent developments in the area of blend polymer electrolyte-based energy storage devices. It provides a detailed discussion of the developments of polymer electrolytes in the case of batteries and supercapacitors, as they constitute a major portion of advanced EES devices. In addition, electrospun blend polymer electrolytes and filler incorporated blend systems are also presented in the chapter. In conclusion, the challenges to polymer electrolytes and their future directions are discussed, thereby fueling further developments in effective energy storage technology. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.