Effect of Anhydrous Gdcl3 Doping on the Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of PVP Polymer Electrolyte Films

Polymer electrolyte films containing GdCl 3 salt and polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymer have been prepared by solution cast technique. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the amorphous nature of all the films. UV-Visible optical absorption properties reveal the complex formation of polymer electrolyte with GdCl 3 dopant. The absorption coefficient, direct band gap energy and indirect band gap energy are decreased with increasing GdCl 3 dopant. Both dielectric and ac conductivity studies exhibit that the dielectric constant value at low frequency and ac conductivity at high frequency increases with increasing GdCl 3 dopant concentration in PVP polymer. The complex impedance plots showed a single semi-circular arc for all the concentrations of CdCl 3 doped in PVP. The ac conductivity and ionic conductivity are about 3.96´10 -3 S/cm and 3.12´10 -3 S/cm at room temperature for 15 mol% GdCl 3 doped PVP polymer electrolyte films. The cyclic-voltammetry plots revealed large specific capacities with increasing in GdCl 3 dopant concentration. The estimated ionic conductivity is five orders of magnitude larger than that of PVP doped with other metal salts reported earlier. The present study strongly recommends that the CdCl 3 is worthy candidate for enhancing ionic conductivity of PVP and other polymers.