Ion-conductive properties of mesoporous silica-filled composite polymer electrolytes

We have synthesized mesoporous silica (MPSi) as a novel type of inorganic filler for polyether-based electrolytes and have characterized the effect of addition on ionic conduction. Both poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and PMEO composites filled with MPSi showed higher ionic conductivity than the original and the composites filled with particle silica (pSiO₂). It was considered that the increase is caused by the difference in the surface area between MPSi and pSiO₂. In the PEO composites, the addition of MPSi gave rise to the reduction of crystal PEO and crystalline complex domains. The glass transition temperature of the PMEO composites increased with the addition of the MPSi, in spite that the conductivity increased with increasing the filler contents. It has been suggested that the Lewis acid-base interactions between ions, ether chains and filler surface strongly affect on the ionic conduction in the composite electrolytes.     

Novel composite polymer electrolyte comprising poly(ethylene oxide) and triblock copolymer/mesostructured silica hybrid used for lithium polymer battery

Ordered mesoporous materials, due to its potential applications in catalysis, separation technologies, and nano-science have attracted much attention in the past few years. In this work, a novel PEO-based composite polymer electrolyte by using organic-inorganic hybrid EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀ @ mesoporous silica (P123 @ SBA-15) as the filler has been developed. The interactions between P123 @ SBA-15 hybrid and PEO chains are studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and FT-IR techniques. The effects of P123 @ SBA-15 on the electrochemical properties of the PEO-based electrolyte, such as ionic conductivity, lithium ion transference number are studied by electrochemical ac impedance spectroscopy and steady-state current method. The experiment results show that P123 @ SBA-15 can enhance the ionic conductivity and increase the lithium ion transference number of PEO-based electrolyte, which are induced by the special topology structure of P123 in P123 @ SBA-15 hybrid, at the same time. The excellent lithium transport properties and broad electrochemical stability window suggesting that PEO-LiClO₄/P123 @ SBA-15 composite polymer electrolyte can be used as candidate electrolyte materials for lithium polymer batteries.     

Gel-based composite polymer electrolytes with novel hierarchical mesoporous silica network for lithium batteries

In the present work, novel gel-based composite polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries were prepared by introducing a hierarchical mesoporous silica network to the poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)-based gel electrolytes. As compared with the PVDF-HFP-based gel electrolytes with/without conventional nano-sized silica fillers, the novel electrolytes have shown more homogeneous microstructure, higher ionic conductivity and better mechanical stability, which could be caused by the strong silica network and the effective interactions among the polymer, the liquid electrolytes and the silica. Moreover, the cell with this kind of electrolytes could achieve a discharge capacity as much as 150 mAh g⁻¹ at room temperature (LiCoO₂ as the cathode active material), with high Coulomb efficiency.     

Electric double layer capacitors with gelled polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) cured with poly(propylene oxide) diamines

Using a gel electrolyte for electric double layer capacitors usually encountered a drawback of poor contact between the electrolyte and the electrode surface. A gel electrolyte consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) crosslinked with poly(propylene oxide) as a host, propylene carbonate (PC) as a plasticizer, and LiClO₄ as a electrolytic salt was synthesized for double layer capacitors. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A was blended with the polymer precursors to enhance the mechanical properties and increase the internal free volume. This gel electrolyte showed an ionic conductivity as high as 2 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C and was electrochemically stable over a wide potential range (ca. 5 V). By sandwiching this gel-electrolyte film with two activated carbon cloth electrodes (1100 m² g⁻¹ in surface area), we obtained a capacitor with a specific capacitance of 86 F g⁻¹ discharged at 0.5 mA cm⁻², while the capacitance was 82 F g⁻¹ for a capacitor equipped with a liquid electrolyte of 1 M LiClO₄/PC. The capacitance decrease with the current density was less significant for the gel-electrolyte capacitor. We found that the less restricted ion diffusion near the electrolyte/electrode interface led to the smaller overall resistance of the gel-electrolyte capacitor. The high performance of the gel-electrolyte capacitor has demonstrated that the developed polymer network not only facilitated ion motion in the electrolyte bulk phase but also gave an intimate contact with the carbon surface. The side chains of the polymer in the amorphous phase could stretch across the boundary layer at the electrolyte/electrode interface to come into contact with the carbon surface, thus improving transport of Li⁺ ions by the segmental mobility in polymer.     

Structure and conductive properties of poly(ethylene oxide)/layered double hydroxide nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

The oligo(ethylene oxide) modified layered double hydroxide (LDH) prepared by template method was added as a nanoscale nucleating agent into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to form PEO/OLDH nanocomposite electrolytes. The effects of OLDH addition on morphology and conductivities of nanocomposite electrolytes were studied using wide-angle X-ray diffractometer, polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and ionic conductivity measurement. The results show that the exfoliated morphology of nanocomposites is formed due to the surface modification of LDH layers with PEO matrix compatible oligo(ethylene oxide)s. The nanoscale dispersed OLDH layers inhibit the crystal growth of PEO crystallites and result in a plenty amount of intercrystalline grain boundary within PEO/OLDH nanocomposites. The ionic conductivities of nanocomposite electrolytes are enhanced by three orders of magnitude compared to the pure PEO polymer electrolytes at ambient temperature. It can be attributed to the ease transport of Li⁺ along intercrystalline amorphous phase. This novel nanocomposite electrolytes system with high conductivities will be benefited to fabricate the thin-film type of Li-polymer secondary battery.     

Investigations on the enhancement mechanism of inorganic filler on ionic conductivity of PEO-based composite polymer electrolyte: The case of molecular sieves

Polarized optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) techniques are used to study the effect of ZSM-5 molecular sieves on the crystallization mechanism of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in composite polymer electrolyte. POM results show that ZSM-5 has great influence on both the nucleation stage and the growth stage of PEO spherulites. ZSM-5 particles can act as the nucleus of PEO spherulites and thus increase the amount of PEO spherulites. POM and DSC results show that ZSM-5 can restrain the recrystallize tendency of PEO chains through Lewis acid-base interactions and hence decrease the growth speed of PEO spherulites. Room temperature ionic conductivity of PEO-LiClO₄-based polymer electrolyte can be enhanced by more than two magnitudes during long time storage with the addition of ZSM-5.     

Composite alkaline polymer electrolytes and its application to nickel-metal hydride batteries

In order to enhance the ionic conductivity of polyethylene oxide (PEO)-KOH based alkaline polymer electrolytes, three types of nano-powders, i.e., TiO₂, β-Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ were added to PEO-KOH complex, respectively, and the corresponding composite alkaline polymer electrolytes were prepared. The experimental results showed that the prepared polymer electrolytes exhibited higher ionic conductivities at room temperature, typically 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ as measured by ac impedance method, and good electrochemical stability. The electrochemical stability window of ca. 1.6 V was determined by cyclic voltammetry with stainless steel blocking electrodes. The influence of the film composition such as KOH, H₂O and nano-additives on ion conductivity was investigated and explained. The temperature dependence of conductivity was also determined. In addition, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-KOH alkaline polymer electrolytes were obtained using solvent casting method. The properties of the polymer electrolytes were characterized by ac impedance, cyclic voltammetry and differential thermal analysis methods. The ionic conductivity of the prepared PVA-CMC-KOH-H₂O electrolytes can reach the order of 10⁻² S cm⁻¹. The effect of CMC addition on the alkaline polymer electrolytes was also explained. The experimental results demonstrated that the PVA-CMC-KOH-H₂O polymer electrolyte could be used in Ni/MH battery.     

介孔分子筛SBA-15的改性研究进展

从金属改性、酸改性和氧化物改性三方面综述了介孔分子筛SBA-15的改性研究进展,重点介绍了SBA-15表面功能化后引入金属改性的方法。评述了金属纳米粒子的制备对改性的SBA-15催化剂催化性能的影响。     

Structural characterization of new poly(ethylene oxide)-based alkaline solid polymer electrolytes

A new class of alkaline solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and water was investigated. The structure of the SPEs was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction, and optical microscopy techniques. The existence of a crystalline complex between PEO, KOH, and H₂O was evidenced for some compositions, depending on the O/K ratio. A possible structure was proposed, and a schematic phase diagram was established for this PEO–KOH–H₂O system. The first conductivity measurements also revealed the great interest of these systems, with conductivity values up to 10^-3 S/cm. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:601–607, 1997     

Enhancement of electrochemical properties of hot-pressed poly(ethylene oxide)-based nanocomposite polymer electrolyte films for all-solid-state lithium polymer batteries

PEO₁₆-LiClO₄-ZnAl₂O₄ nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) films prepared by hot-pressing method have been investigated. In order to compare with the hot-pressed NCPEs, the NCPE films have also been prepared using the conventional solution-casting method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), conductivity (σ) and interface property studies have been carried out on above two kinds of films. The results show that the NCPE film prepared by hot-pressing method has smoother surface, higher interface stability, lower crystallization and melting temperature values than that prepared by solution-casting method. An all-solid-state lithium polymer battery using the hot-pressed NCPE film as electrolyte, lithium metal and LiFePO₄ as anode and cathode respectively, shows high discharge specific capacity, good rate capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent cycling stability as revealed by galvanostatical charge/discharge cycling tests.     

On the mechanical stability of mesoporous silica SBA-15

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 was synthesised at 80 °C. The calcined solids were exposed to a unilateral external pressure in the range 16–191 MPa in order to monitor the impact of the mechanical pressure on the properties of SBA-15. N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, XRD and UV-Raman spectroscopy was used in order to evaluate the changes occurring in the SBA-15. For the XRD measurement, an internal Si standard was used to correct the position of the SBA-15 patterns. It appeared that the elevated pressure has no influence on the hexagonal cell parameter a. Through the N₂ sorption measurements the fraction of the preserved mesoporous structure was estimated to be 60% when the highest pressure has been used. As the remaining part of the material is irreversibly disintegrated into small particles, the pressed sample is considered to be heterogeneous. However, the preserved fraction is slightly modified, showing a smaller pore width and plugs located within the mesopores. The plugs most likely originate from a disintegrated fraction of the SBA-15. UV-Raman spectroscopy shows that the relative intensity of the band associated with the siliceous network (ω₁) has decreased on the pressed samples resulting in a less ordered material possessing an enhanced population of silanols as compared to parent SBA-15. We propose that the disorder introduced by pressing is responsible for the observed expansion of the SBA-15 walls, which is detected for the samples treated at higher pressures (112, 191 MPa).     

All solid-state polymer electrolytes prepared from a graft copolymer consisting of a polyimide main chain and poly(ethylene oxide) based side chains

We prepare an all solid-state, liquid-free, polymer electrolyte (ASPE) from a lithium salt and a graft copolymer consisting of a polyimide main chain and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate side chains using atom transfer radical polymerization method. The ionic conductivity of ASPEs increases with increasing the side chain length. The ionic conductivity of the ASPE whose POEM content = 60 wt% shows 6.5 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm at 25 °C. The ASPEs having shorter average distance between side chains and/or shorter side chain length show higher mechanical strength. The tensile strength of the ASPEs is more than 10 MPa and about 20 times higher than that of the ASPEs in the previous study [Electrochim. Acta, 50 (1998) 3832]; hence, the ASPEs have sufficiently high mechanical strength for a polymer electrolyte of lithium secondary batteries.     

A novel PEO-based composite polymer electrolyte with absorptive glass mat for Li-ion batteries

A novel PEO (polyethylene oxide)-based composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) using absorptive glass mat (AGM) as filler was prepared and characterized. Scanning electronic micrograph (SEM) images showed that the addition of Li salt and modified AGM may improve the surface morphology of CPE. The results of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) indicated that the inclusion of LiClO₄ salt and the addition of AGM filler can reduce the crystallinity of PEO. It was concluded that the addition of AGM plays two roles in PEO-based CPEs, namely, interruption of the PEO recrystallization and reinforcement of CPEs, accordingly enhancing room temperature ionic conductivity of CPEs and improving its mechanical strength and electrochemical stability at high temperatures.     

Preparation and characteristics of natural rubber/poly(ethylene oxide) salt hybrid mixtures as novel polymer electrolytes

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) of molecular weight 1000 (PEO₁₀₀₀) containing lithium benzenesulfonate (LiBs) (PEO₁₀₀₀/LiBs), PEO derivatives having benzenesulfonate groups on both chain ends (PEO₁₀₀₀–(BSLi)₂), or 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide (ImB), were each blended with natural rubber (NR). The ionic conductivity was measured from AC impedance values. The ionic conductivity of the mixture of NR and PEO₁₀₀₀/LiBs (40 wt%) was about 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ at 50°C; this mixture retained rubbery physical characteristics. At NR content of 10 wt%, the ionic conductivity of the mixture (NR/PEO₁₀₀₀/LiBs) was 2.7×10⁻⁵ Scm⁻¹ at 50°C, approximately 10 times higher than that of the bulk PEO/LiBs mixture. For mixtures of NR and PEO₁₀₀₀–(BSLi)₂, no improvement in ionic conductivity by mixing was found. The ionic conductivity of the mixture of NR and ImB was about 10 times higher than for the bulk of PEO₁₀₀₀–(BSLi)₂ at a NR content of 10 wt%. We propose that the ionic conductivity of the mixture increases when an ion conducting matrix containing simple salt is added. On the other hand, the DSC curve for NR/PEO derivatives showed two T_gs based on the separate components, suggesting phase separation of the PEO derivative in the NR phase.     

Electrochemical investigation of polymer electrolytes based on lithium 2-(phenylsulfanyl)-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-ethansulfonate

The salt PhSCF₂CF₂SO₃Li appears promising for lithium-polymer batteries. Its poly(oxyethylene) complexes, although less conductive than lithium imide complexes, provided cationic transference numbers ranging between 0.45 and 0.5, enabling high cationic conductivities to be obtained. Thanks to its double substitution by aryl and perfluorinated moieties, the thioether function is stable enough to be used with positive electrodes, such as vanadium oxide and perhaps cobalt oxide.     

介孔硅SBA-15对水溶液中咪唑基离子液体的吸附性能研究

本文研究了介孔硅SBA-15对水中咪唑基离子液体[Bmim]Cl和[Bmim]OH的吸附行为。合成的SBA-15具有有序的二维六方介孔结构。研究发现升高温度会使SBA-15对离子液体的吸附量降低,吸附过程是放热过程。25℃下将吸附等温数据进行Langmuir和Freundlich方程线性拟合,相比之下Langmuir模型更适合用来描述SBA-15对两种离子液的吸附行为,SBA-15对[Bmim]Cl和[Bmim]OH最大吸附量分别为336.7和467.3mg·g-1。     

含磺酸基的介孔分子筛SO3H-SBA-15催化合成油酸丁酯

采用水热法直接合成了含磺酸基的介孔分子筛SO3H-SBA-15.以油酸与正丁醇为原料催化合成油酸丁酯,进行了不同催化剂的对比实验以及反应条件包括催化剂用量、反应温度、反应时间、酸醇摩尔比的考察.得到最佳反应条件为：催化剂质量分数为10%,反应温度120 ℃,反应时间3 h,酸醇摩尔比1∶2.     

Polymer chain organization in tensile-stretched poly(ethylene oxide)-based polymer electrolytes

Polymer chain orientation in tensile-stretched poly(ethylene oxide)-lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate polymer electrolytes are investigated with polarized infrared spectroscopy as a function of the degree of strain and salt composition (ether oxygen atom to lithium ion ratios of 20:1, 15:1, and 10:1). The 1359 and 1352 cm(-1) bands are used to probe the crystalline PEO and P(EO)(3)LiCF(3)SO(3) domains, respectively, allowing a direct comparison of chain orientation for the two phases. Two-dimensional correlation FT-IR spectroscopy indicates that the two crystalline domains align at the same rate as the polymer electrolytes are stretched. Quantitative measurements of polymer chain orientation obtained through dichroic infrared spectroscopy show that chain orientation predominantly occurs between strain values of 150% and 250%, regardless of salt composition investigated. There are few changes in chain orientation for either phase when the films are further elongated to a strain of 300%; however, the PEO domains are slightly more oriented at the high strain values. The spectroscopic data are consistent with stretching-induced melt-recrystallization of the unoriented crystalline domains in the solution-cast polymer films. Stretching the films pulls polymer chains from the crystalline domains, which subsequently recrystallize with the polymer helices parallel to the stretch direction. If lithium ion conduction in crystalline polymer electrolytes is viewed as consisting of two major components (facile intra-chain lithium ion conduction and slow helix-to-helix inter-grain hopping), then alignment of the polymer helices will affect the ion conduction pathways for these materials by reducing the number of inter-grain hops required to migrate through the polymer electrolyte.     

Gold nanoparticles stabilized in a novel periodic mesoporous organosilica of SBA-15 for styrene epoxidation

The stabilization of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by disulfide groups linked to imidazolium chloride units in a periodic mesoporous organosilica of SBA-15 and their catalytic performances in the epoxidation of styrene were investigated. The mesoporous organosilica (PMO-SBA-15) was synthesized via a one-pot condensation process involving the assembly of ionic liquid silsesquioxane organic precursor containing disulfide group and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of P123 (EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀). Aqueous chloroaurate ions were in situ reduced by the silanol groups presented on the channel surface of the mesoporous organosilica to form GNPs that were subsequently captured by disulfide group to obtain Au-containing mesoporous organosilica (Au-PMO-SBA-15). The PMO-SBA-15 and Au-PMO-SBA-15 were characterized by XRD, ²⁹Si MAS-NMR, FT-IR, UV–vis, TEM and N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements. It was found that both PMO-SBA-15 and Au-PMO-SBA-15 had the typical characteristics of mesoporous SBA-15, and that the GNPs entrapped into the channels of Au-PMO-SBA-15 possessed mean size of ca. 1.8 nm. The Au-PMO-SBA-15 was used as a catalyst in the epoxidation of styrene. 95% of styrene conversion and 75% of selectivity to styrene epoxide were obtained over the novel Au-PMO-SBA-15 catalyst, which were higher than that over the reported nano-Au catalysts. Furthermore, the Au-PMO-SBA-15 could be conveniently recovered for recycled use without significant loss of catalytic activity and selectivity.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of lithium methacrylate-based self-doped gel polymer electrolytes

In this study, a strategy for synthesizing lithium methacrylate (LiMA)-based self-doped gel polymer electrolytes was described and the electrochemical properties were investigated by impedance spectroscopy and linear sweep voltammetry. LiMA was found to dissolve in ethylene carbonate (EC)/diethyl carbonate (DEC) (3/7, v/v) solvent after complexing with boron trifluoride (BF₃). This was achieved by lowering the ionic interactions between the methacrylic anion and lithium cation. As a result, gel polymer electrolytes consisting of BF₃-LiMA complexes and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate were successfully synthesized by radical polymerization in an EC/DEC liquid electrolyte. The FT-IR and AC impedance measurements revealed that the incorporation of BF₃ into the gel polymer electrolytes increases the solubility of LiMA and the ionic conductivity by enhancing the ion disassociations. Despite the self-doped nature of the LiMA salt, an ionic conductivity value of 3.0 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ was achieved at 25 °C in the gel polymer electrolyte with 49 wt% of polymer content. Furthermore, linear sweep voltammetry measurements showed that the electrochemical stability of the gel polymer electrolyte was around 5.0 V at 25 °C.