| Summary: | The dielectric properties of polymers are useful in energy storage applications. Salts and nanofillers are often added into polymers to enhance the dielectric properties in order to suit the energy storage application. Nevertheless, the roles and effects of nanofillers added into polymers are still debatable topics. Hence, in this chapter, we present the effect of adding salt and/or nanofiller in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and its blends. A systematic comparison of the effect of salt and/or nanofiller is presented in terms of the thermal properties, conductivity, and morphology of PEO and its blends. Lithium salts show stronger interaction with PEO chains displayed by the increment in the glass transition, depression of the melting temperature, and reduction in crystallinity of PEO. Consequently, the conductivity of PEO-salt systems is enhanced upon the addition of salt up to the saturation point. On the other hand, nanofiller shows only minimal or no systematic effects on the PEO and the blends’ properties. Based on the presented data, careful selection of salts, nanofillers, and the second polymer is required in order to develop good properties of PEO-based nanocomposites that can be used in energy storage applications. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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