Novel composite gel electrolytes were prepared using self-assembled organogels as scaffolds. Mixing
silica with the low-molecular-weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based electrolytes resulted in
precipitation due to significant aggregation of silica. However, clear and transparent PEG-silica
composite gel electrolytes were obtained with 1,3:2,4-dibenzylidene-D-sorbitol (DBS) organogels. The
organogels resulted from the formation of DBS nanofibrillar networks in which the diameter sizes of the
nanofibrils ranged from 10 to 100 nm, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. These threedimensional
nanofibrillar networks entrapped the silica and prevented its aggregation. The thermal
properties, such as gel dissolution and thermal degradation temperatures, of the composite gels
significantly increased with increasing silica content, as determined by polarizing optical microscopy
and thermogravimetric analysis. The conductivity of the prepared composite gel electrolytes was clearly
enhanced by increasing the silica content. The silica was well dispersed along the DBS nanofibrillar
networks, establishing homogeneous microstructures and effective contact with other components of the
electrolytes, leading to an increase in the conductivity.
