Conductivity relaxation in the PEO-salt polymer electrolytes

The ionic conductivity of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based electrolytes is complicated due to the coexistence of crystalline and amorphous phase below melting point of PEO complexes. The two-phase characteristics are greatly dependent upon thermal history, exhibiting variety of spherulitic morphology and crystallinity. Further complicacy comes from slow crystallization kinetics of the spherulites. We found that the ionic conductivity of PEO_nLiClO₄ polymer electrolytes under isothermal conditions, after quenching from high-temperature phase, drops significantly for roughly first 10 h and then decreases very slowly thereafter. The conductivity relaxation observed can be assigned to be a consequence of the slow recrystallization kinetics of PEO. It corresponds to a gradual, slow secondary crystallization of PEO and PEO-salt complexes corresponding to thickening of spherulitic aggregates, possibly through a development of subsidiary lamellae which fill in the space between the dominant lamellae crystals. Hence, large inconsistencies in the conductivity values reported in many papers, varying more than three orders of magnitude, are rather obvious, originated from non-equilibrium nature and slow recrystallization kinetics of semicrystalline state.     

Solid polymer electrolytes of blends of polyurethane and polyether modified polysiloxane and their ionic conductivity

Polymer electrolytes based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polyether modified polysiloxane (PEMPS) blend with lithium salts were developed via an in-situ polymerization of TPU with the presence of PEMPS and salts. Morphological study of TPU/PEMPS electrolytes showed that TPU and PEMPS were immiscible and TPU/PEMPS electrolytes had a multiphase morphology. The lithium salt enhanced the interfacial compatibilization between TPU and PEMPS via the interaction of lithium ions with different phases. Three lithium salts with different interaction strengths with TPU and PEMPS were used to prepare TPU/PEMPS electrolytes with different levels of phase compatibilization: LiCl, LiClO₄, and LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂ (LiTFSI). The effect of PEMPS on ionic conductivity, dimensional stability and thermal stability of TPU/PEMPS electrolytes and their relationship with the blend morphology were investigated. TPU/PEMPS electrolytes showed good dimensional stability and thermal stability. The addition of PEMPS to TPU increased the ionic conductivity of TPU/PEMPS electrolytes. The room temperature ionic conductivity of TPU/PEMPS electrolytes with LiTFSI can reach up to 2.49 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm.     

Electrorheological fluids based on polymer electrolytes

The phenomenon of electrorheological activity taking part in so called electrorheological fluids (ERFs) relies on strong and reversible changes of fluid viscosity upon application of electric field and finds interesting technical applications. ERFs typically comprise dispersions of polarisable solid particles in liquid matrices. The paper describes studies on complexes of polyacrylonitrile with various salts of alkaline elements. The materials in a powder form were dispersed in silicone oil as well as in active matrices containing a liquid crystalline polymer. It was found that these novel systems were substantially anhydrous and electrorheologically active. The observed ER effect was relatively high and accompanied by very low current consumption. The magnitude of the ER effect was correlated with bulk ionic conductivity of the studied materials. The optimal bulk conductivity giving the highest ER effect at reasonably low currents amounted to about 10⁻⁵ S/cm. Higher conductivities resulted in higher currents only and saturation of the yield stress values. It was also shown that dispersions of the polymer complexes in a solution of poly(n-hexyl isocyanatye) in xylene manifested enhanced ER activity.     

Furan-polyether-modified chitosans as photosensitive polymer electrolytes

This study describes a comprehensive approach to the preparation of novel polymer electrolytes comprising (i) oligo(ethylene oxide) solvating chains and conjugated furan chromophores, both grafted onto a film-forming chitosan backbone and (ii) lithium perchlorate as the ionic conductor. The combination of these four elements was conceived in order to optimize both the electrochemical and mechanical properties of the materials and to maintain their thermoplastic character until the last step of the process, since their photoinduced cross-linking takes place only after the dissolution of the salt and the formation of a thin film.     

Thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of plasticized polymer electrolytes based on PEO/P(VDF-HFP) blends

The polymer electrolytes composed of a blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) as a host polymer, mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) as a plasticizer, and LiClO₄ as a salt were prepared by a solution casting technique. SEM micrographs show that P(VDF-HFP) is very compatible with PEO. The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes increases with increasing plasticizer content, while the mechanical properties become obviously worse. By addition of a certain content of PEO in P(VDF-HFP) matrix, a good compromise between high ionic conductivity and mechanical stability can be obtained.     

PEO-based polymer electrolytes

Like a liquid solvent, poly(ethylene oxide) dissolves a wide variety of inorganic salts. Ionic conductivity occurs in the amorphous region of the polymer and typically both anions and cations are mobile to some extent. This paper discusses the preparation, thermal behaviour and ionic transport of thin cast films of PEO-based electrolytes containing monovalent and divalent cations. The techniques that shed light on the structure-conductivity relationship are emphasized. The temperature and composition dependence of conductivity is also considered. Finally, attention has been paid to the possible uses of these polymeric electrolytes in solid-state electrochemical devices such as primary and secondary batteries, electrochromic displays and sensors.     

Agar-based films for application as polymer electrolytes

New types of polymer electrolytes based on agar have been prepared and characterized by impedance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurements, UV-vis spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The best ionic conductivity has been obtained for the samples containing a concentration of 50 wt.% of acetic acid. As a function of the temperature the ionic conductivity exhibits an Arrhenius behavior increasing from 1.1 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at room temperature to 9.6 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 80 °C. All the samples showed more than 70% of transparency in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a very homogeneous surface and a predominantly amorphous structure. All these characteristics imply that these polymer electrolytes can be applied in electrochromic devices.     

Characterization of PEO-PAN hybrid solid polymer electrolytes

Hybrid solid polymer electrolytes (HSPE) of high ionic conductivity were prepared using polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), propylene carbonate (PrC), ethylene carbonate (EC), and LiClO₄. These electrolyte films were dry, free standing, and dimensionally stable. The HSPE films were characterized by constructing symmetrical cells containing nonblocking lithium electrodes as well as blocking stainless steel electrodes. Studies were made on ionic conductivity, electrochemical reaction, interfacial stability, and morphology of the films using alternating current impedance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The properties of HSPE were compared with the films prepared using (i) PEO, PrC, and LiClO₄; and (ii) PAN, PrC, EC, and LiClO₄. The specific conductivity of the HSPE films was marginally less. Nevertheless, the dimensional stability was much superior. The interfacial stability of lithium was similar in the three electrolyte films. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2191–2199, 1997     

Proton-conducting polymer electrolytes based on methacrylates

Proton-conducting polymer electrolytes based on methacrylates were prepared by direct, radical polymerization of ethyl (EMA), 2-ethoxyethyl (EOEMA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Samples with embedded solutions of phosphoric acid in propylene carbonate (PC), γ-butyrolactone (GBL), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and their mixtures were studied using impedance, voltammetrical and thermogravimetric methods. Membranes of long-term stability exhibit ionic conductivity up to 6.7 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C reached for the sample PEMA-PC-H₃PO₄ (31:42:27 mol.%). The accessible electrochemical potential window is 2.2-3 V depending on the working electrode material (glassy carbon or platinum). The thermogravimetric analysis shows that the membranes are thermally stable up to 110-130 °C.     

Examination of the fundamental relation between ionic transport and segmental relaxation in polymer electrolytes

Replacing traditional liquid electrolytes by polymers will significantly improve electrical energy storage technologies. Despite significant advantages for applications in electrochemical devices, the use of solid polymer electrolytes is strongly limited by their poor ionic conductivity. The classical theory predicts that the ionic transport is dictated by the segmental motion of the polymer matrix. As a result, the low mobility of polymer segments is often regarded as the limiting factor for development of polymers with sufficiently high ionic conductivity. Here, we show that the ionic conductivity in many polymers can be strongly decoupled from their segmental dynamics, in terms of both temperature dependence and relative transport rate. Based on this principle, we developed several polymers with “superionic” conductivity. The observed fast ion transport suggests a fundamental difference between the ionic transport mechanisms in polymers and small molecules and provides a new paradigm for design of highly conductive polymer electrolytes.     

Dye-sensitised photoelectrochemical solar cells with polyacrylonitrile based solid polymer electrolytes

Novel all solid state dye-sensitised photolectrochemical solar cells of the type, FTO-TiO₂-dye-PAN, EC, PC, Pr₄N⁺I⁻, I₂-Pt-FTO, have been fabricated and characterised using current-voltage characteristics and action spectra. Liquid electrolyte generally used for such solar cells has successfully replaced by a quasi solid electrolyte comprised of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticisers and Pr₄N⁺I⁻/I₂ redox couple with tetrapropylammoniumiodide as the complexing salt. For the polymer electrolyte, the optimum conductivity of 2.95×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ was obtained for the electrolyte composition, PAN:EC:PC=15:35:50 (wt.%). The short circuit current density (J_SC) and the open circuit voltage (V_OC) obtained for an incident light intensity of 600 W m⁻² were 3.73 mA cm⁻² and 0.69 V, respectively. This corresponds to an overall quantum efficiency of 2.99%. From the action spectrum, the maximum incident photon conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 33% was obtained for incident light of wavelength 480 nm.     

Characterization of solid polymer electrolytes based on poly(trimethylenecarbonate) and lithium tetrafluoroborate

The results of an investigation of a polymer electrolyte system based on the poly(trimethylene carbonate) host matrix, designated as p(TMC), with lithium tetrafluoroborate guest salt are described in this presentation. Electrolytes with lithium salt compositions with n between 3 and 80 (where n represents the number of (OCOCH₂CH₂CH₂O) units per lithium ion) were prepared by co-dissolution of salt and polymer in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The homogeneous solutions obtained by this procedure were evaporated, within a preparative glovebox and under a dry argon atmosphere, to form thin films of electrolyte.The solvent-free electrolyte films produced were obtained as very flexible, transparent, completely amorphous films and were characterized by measurements of total ionic conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry.     

Conductivity hysteresis in polymer electrolytes incorporating poly(tetrahydrofuran)

Conductivity hysteresis and room temperature ionic conductivities >10⁻³ S/cm were recently reported for electrolytes prepared from blends of an amphiphilic comb copolymer, poly[2,5,8,11,14-pentaoxapentadecamethylene (5-hexadecyloxy-1,3-phenylene)] (polymer I), and a linear multiblock copolymer, poly(oligotetrahydrofuran-co-dodecamethylene) (polymer II), following thermal treatment [F. Chia, Y. Zheng, J. Liu, N. Reeves, G. Ungar, P.V. Wright, Electrochim. Acta 43 (2003) 1939]. To investigate the origin of these effects, polymers I and II were synthesized in this work, and the conductivity and thermal properties of the individual polymers were investigated. AC impedance measurements were conducted on I and II doped with LiBF₄ or LiClO₄ during gradual heating to 110 °C and slow cooling to room temperature. Significant conductivity hysteresis was seen for polymer II, and was similarly observed for poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) homopolymer at equivalent doping levels. From thermogravimetic analysis (TGA), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, both polymer II and PTHF were found to partially decompose to THF during heat treatment, resulting in a self-plasticizing effect on conductivity.     

Highly conductive ionic liquid based ternary polymer electrolytes obtained by in situ photopolymerisation

New ternary polymer electrolytes based on a commercial cross-linking resin dianol diacrylate (DDA), tetramethylene sulphone (TMS) as a compatibilizing solvent and ionic liquids (ILs) were prepared by in situ photopolymerisation. The electrolytes containing two polymer-to-TMS-to-IL ratios, 20:30:50 and 20:20:60 by weight, respectively and six various ILs were investigated. The obtained materials were flexible, self-standing with good mechanical properties and a long-term stability. They showed high ionic conductivities, in the range of ca. 7 × 10⁻³ to 3 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C. A very important result is that the conductivities of all the prepared polymer electrolytes exceeded the conductivities of the corresponding neat ILs by 2–3.5 times. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity correlates with VTF equation. All the materials prepared were characterized by a broad electrochemical stability window (3.3–3.7 V).     

Reply to comments on the need to reconsider traditional free volume theory for polymer electrolytes

New aspects of the defect diffusion model (DDM) are presented. First, it is shown that if the correlation volume exhibits two dimensional scaling, e.g. grows in two dimensions more rapidly than in a third orthogonal direction, the standard Vogel relation is obtained. Second, it is pointed out that, independent of the dimensionality, ∂ ln σ/∂P should be proportional to ∂ ln σ/∂ ln T where the proportionality constant is −∂ ln T_c/∂P. It is shown that both of these results are consistent with the temperature and pressure variation of the electrical conductivity for 20:1 PPG:LiCF₃SO₃ below about 1.3 times the glass transition temperature, T_g. Finally, the DDM is compared with the free volume theory (FVT) of Dlubek et al. who have reconsidered “traditional” FVT and presented a formalism where the free volume is not proportional to the macroscopic volume. One aspect of the new FVT, which is difficult to understand is that the compressibility of the occupied volume is larger than the compressibility of the free volume.     

Complicated phase behavior and ionic conductivities of PVP-co-PMMA-based polymer electrolytes

We have used DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and ac impedance techniques to investigate the interactions that occur within complexes of poly(vinylpyrrolidone-co-methyl methacrylate) (PVP-co-PMMA) and lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as well as these systems' phase behavior and ionic conductivities. The presence of MMA moieties in the PVP-co-PMMA random copolymer has an inert diluent effect that reduces the degree of self-association of the PVP molecules and causes a negative deviation in the glass transition temperature (T_g). In the binary LiClO₄/PVP blends, the presence of a small amount of LiClO₄ reduces the strong dipole-dipole interactions within PVP and leads to a lower T_g. Further addition of LiClO₄ increases T_g as a result of ion-dipole interactions between LiClO₄ and PVP. In LiClO₄/PVP-co-PMMA blend systems, for which the three individual systems—the PVP-co-PMMA copolymer and the LiClO₄/PVP and LiClO₄/PMMA blends—are miscible at all compositional ratios, a phase-separated loop exists at certain compositions due to a complicated series of interactions among the LiClO₄, PVP and PMMA units. The PMMA-rich component in the PVP-co-PMMA copolymer tends to be excluded, and this phenomenon results in phase separation. At a LiClO₄ content of 20 wt% salt, the maximum ionic conductivity occurred for a LiClO₄/VP57 blend (i.e., 57 mol% VP units in the PVP-co-PMMA copolymer).     

A quantum-chemical study on the boron centers in nonaqueous electrolyte solutions and polymer electrolytes

Quantum-chemical calculations were performed to study the effect of Lewis acid centers introduced to liquid or polymer electrolytes as boric acid esters. Particular attention has been paid to the modeling of solvent effects on ion–ion and anion-acid center interactions. Calculated complexation energies for lithium salts and polymerizable boric acid esters with diols in different solvents were analyzed and related to available conductivity data.     

添加TiO2的聚合物电解质膜PVDF-HFP的性能研究

通过添加不同质量分数的TiO2纳米粒子制备多孔聚合物电解质膜PVDF-HFP,制备的聚合物电解质膜通过红外,交流阻抗,线性伏安扫描、首次充放电测试等方法进行了性能测试。添加TiO2纳米填料后,降低了聚合物链的结晶度和极性,当填料的质量分数为8%时,表现出较好的电化学性能,吸液率为184%,孔隙率为93%,室温电导率达到2.05×10-3 S/cm,电化学稳定窗口为4.7V,能满足要求。     

Ionic conductivity and physical stability study of gel nework polymer electrolytes

Gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) were prepared by a crosslinking reaction between poly(ethylene glycol) and a crosslinking agent with three isocyanate groups in the presence of propylene carbonate (PC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) or their mixture, and their ionic conducting behavior was carefully investigated. When the plasticizer amount was fixed, the ionic conductivity was greatly influenced by the nature of plasticizers. It was found that the conductivity data followed the Arrhenius equation in the GPE. Whatever plasticizer was used, a maximum ambient conductivity was found at a salt concentration near [Li⁺]/[EO] equal to 0.20. The physical stability of GPE was studied qualitatively by weight loss of GPE under pressure. It was shown that the stability was greatly affected by the network structure of the GPE and the most stable one in our research was the GPE containing the PEO₁₀₀₀ segment, which has a strong interaction between network and plasticizers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2957–2962, 2000     

Composite polymer electrolytes based on the low crosslinked copolymer of linear and hyperbranched polyurethanes

Low crosslinked copolymer of linear and hyperbranched polyurethane (CHPU) was prepared, and the ionic conductivities and thermal properties of the composite polymer electrolytes composed of CHPU and LiClO₄ were investigated. The FTIR and Raman spectra analysis indicated that the polyurethane copolymer could dissolve more lithium salt than the corresponding polymer electrolytes of the non crosslinked hyperbranched polyurethane, and showed higher conductivities. At salt concentration EO/Li = 4, the electrolyte CHPU30‐LiClO₄ reached its maximum conductivity, 1.51 × 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 25°C. DSC measurement was also used for the analysis of the thermal properties of polymer electrolytes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3607–3613, 2007