Electrical conductivity ionic liquid gels

Ionic liquids (IL) are common electrolytes for use in ionic and c acitive actuators operable in air. IL fills the porous structure of the carbonaceous electrodes and tire intercoimected porous network in the polymeric separator in-between the electrodes. IL-incorporated polymer can be required also as a binder in the electrodes. As an advantageous property, carbon nanotubes form a highly viscous gel - a so-called bucky-gel, when mixed with ionic Uquids (Fukushima et al. 2005 Fukushima et al. 2003). The bucky-gel electrodes do not requite addition of any polymeric binder, which, in turn, helps to retain good electrical conductivity along the electrodes. 

The ionic conductivity of most solid polymer electrolytes is significantly lower than that of the liquid electrolytes. Cells must he designed with thin electrodes and cell components to minimize the internal cell resistance. The total thickness of a cell assembly is as low as 200 fim or thinner. An alternative is to operate at higher temperatures where the conductivity is higher. While this may he acceptahle for electric-vehicle and stand-by batteries, it will not be acceptable for many portable consumer applications. Newer polymer electrolytes are being developed using plasticizers or gel-type polymers. These methods increase the conductivity of the polymers, but since they contain organic solvents, they will be more reactive with the lithium anode. 

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