This work was carried out to synthesize and apply mesoporous 3-mercaptopropyl pyridine-ZnO nanorods (MPP-ZnO NRs) as additives in a cross-linked composite gel polymer electrolyte for enhancing the performance of lithium-ion batteries. The MPP-ZnO NRs were synthesized using a sol-gel method and functionalized with MPP. The electrospun fibrous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane was coated with ZnO nanorods, forming a stable and robust composite electrolyte. Results of mechanical tests indicated that compared to control membranes (without ZnO NRs), the MPP-ZnO-containing membranes showed significant enhancements, likely an increase in tensile strength (∼1.5-fold), an enhancement in adhesion strength (∼4-fold), and an increase in shear stress (∼3-fold). Electrochemical performance was evaluated using charge-discharge cycling and AC impedance spectroscopy tests. Findings demonstrated that utilizing cross-linked gel-polymer electrolytes with MPP-ZnO NRs showed lower charge transfer resistance and superior cycling stability, maintaining 89.0 % capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5C, with an initial discharge capacity of 179.9 mAh/g and 160.1 mAh/g after 200 cycles. Moreover, these cells showed remarkable capacity recovery, with an18 % higher capacity at 5.0C compared to non-porous counterparts and delivering discharge capacity of 139.8 mAh/g at 5.0C. Results showed good high-rate performance due to improved thermal stability and HF scavenging ability of the mesoporous MPP-ZnO NR-based electrolyte. These results indicate the potential of mesoporous MPP-ZnO NRs in advancing the performance and stability of lithium-ion batteries, making them as low-cost candidates for future energy storage applications. • A polymer electrolyte based on ZnO NRs to enhance Li-ion battery performance. • Demonstrates a significant increase in ionic conductivity. • Improvement of thermal stability and HF scavenging ability. • Lower charge transfer resistance and superior cycling stability.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is inherently a brittle material, and enhancing its toughness while preserving its mechanical properties with minimal use of fillers remains a significant research challenge. In this paper, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with acrylic resin (ACR) were synthesized using a mechanochemical approach, and their effectiveness in toughening PVC was investigated. Firstly, methyl methacrylate (MMA) was grafted onto MWCNTs via atomic transfer radical polymerization to improve the compatibility between the MWCNTs and ACR. Subsequently, MWCNTs@ACR core-shell nanoparticles were prepared using a simple, environmentally friendly mechanochemical method. FTIR and TEM analyses confirmed the successful grafting and coating processes. The grafting efficiency of MMA was found to be 13.6 %, while the ACR coating efficiency was 22 %, as determined by TG. MWCNTs@ACR/PVC composites were then fabricated via compression molding, resulting in improved strength, and, notably, enhanced toughness. The impact strength of the composite was 592 % higher than that of PVC and 303 % higher than that of a simple MWCNTs/ACR/PVC blend, while maintaining the composite's strength. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced interfacial interaction between the MWCNTs and the PVC matrix, as well as the excellent dispersion of the MWCNTs within the matrix. • A facile and eco-friendly mechanochemical method produces MWCNTs@ACR nanoparticles. • The inclusion of a small amount of core-shell particles significantly enhances the toughness of PVC. • The modified MWCNTs exhibit excellent dispersibility and compatibility in PVC.