Effect of TiO₂ Nanofillers on the Structural, Thermal and Conductivity Characteristics of PVA–NH₄SCN Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Advanced Electrochemical Devices

This study explores how TiO₂ nanoparticles influence the structural, thermal, and electrochemical characteristics of PVA–NH₄SCN-based gel polymer electrolytes. The materials were fabricated using the solution casting method and examined through XRD, DSC, EIS, and LSV analyses to assess their suitability for energy storage devices. XRD analysis revealed that the incorporation of TiO₂ increases the amorphous phase of the polymer matrix, which favors ion mobility. DSC measurements confirmed that TiO₂ enhances the thermal stability of the electrolyte films compared to the undoped system. EIS results showed a marked improvement in ionic conductivity, rising from ~10^-4 S/cm for the pristine film to ~10^-3 S/cm with TiO₂ addition. Transference number studies indicated that the most conductive sample possessed an ionic transport number of 0.96. LSV further demonstrated a widened electrochemical stability window upon nanofiller inclusion. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that TiO₂ addition simultaneously improves structural, thermal, and electrochemical performance, highlighting the potential of these nanocomposite gel electrolytes for next-generation energy storage applications.