Authors
Hind Alamri, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61411, Saudi Arabia
Atef El Jery, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61411, Saudi Arabia
Room-temperature solid-state sodium-sulfur batteries hold immense potential as next-generation energy storage systems, offering enhanced safety, lower cost, and longer lifespan compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, their practical implementation is hindered by challenges such as the poor conductivity of sulfur cathodes, significant volumetric expansion during cycling, and limitations of solid electrolytes, including low ionic conductivity and high interfacial resistance. This study addresses the limitations of the solid electrolytes by developing a novel composite solid electrolyte based on polyaniline (PANI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), designed to be both ionically conductive and mechanically stable. The effects of the PANI-PEG weight ratio and sodium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (NaTFSI) salt loading on ionic conductivity were systematically investigated. Five PANI-PEG ratios (10:90, 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, and 90:10) were prepared, each combined with three different NaTFSI loadings (10%, 20%, and 30%). Stainless steel symmetrical cells were assembled to measure electrolyte impedance using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Promising results were obtained, with the 50:50 PANI-PEG composite containing 10% NaTFSI achieving an impedance of 2400 Ω. The composite electrolytes were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Full coin cells (Na/PANI-PEG-based composite electrolyte/S-MWCNT) demonstrated promising specific capacities and cycling stability. Overall, the results confirm that PANI-PEG-based composite materials are effective components for synthesizing solid-state electrolytes for Na-S batteries. These findings are expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of safer, more efficient energy storage technologies, supporting global efforts toward sustainable energy solutions.
