Keywords: solvate ionic liquid polymer electrolyte polymer-in-salt ionicity glyme A B S T R A C T Polymer electrolytes (PEs) have served as the focus of intensive research as new ion-conducting materials, especially for lithium battery applications. A new strategy to develop fast lithium-conducting PEs is reported here. The thermal, ionic transport, and electrochemical properties of polymer solutions in a glyme-Li salt solvate ionic liquid, [Li(G4) 1 ][TFSA], composed of an equimolar mixture of lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide (Li[TFSA]) and tetraglyme (G4), were characterized. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) were combined with [Li(G4) 1 ][TFSA] in order to explore the effects of polymer structure on the properties. The self-diffusion coefficient ratio of the glyme and Li + ions (D G /D Li ) was investigated to evaluate the stability of the complex (solvate) cations. The D G /D Li values suggested that the [Li(G4) 1 ] + complex cations underwent a ligand exchange reaction between G4 and PEO in the PEO-based solution, whereas the cations remained stable (D G /D Li = 1) in the PMMA-and PBA-based solutions. The robustness of the [Li(G4) 1 ] + complex cations in the PMMA-and PBA-based solutions was reflected in high weight-loss temperature, greater Li transference number, and high oxidative stability.Owing to the lower glass transition temperature and low affinity towards Li + ions, the PBA-based solutions yielded superior lithium transport properties (ionic conductivity of 10 À4 $10 À3 Scm À1 and Li transference number as high as 0.5) among the investigated polymer solutions.

We describe here the electrochemical properties and battery performance of polymer electrolytes composed of ABA-triblock copolymers and Li-glyme solvate ionic liquids (SILs), which consist of the [Li(glyme)] + complex cation and bis(trifluoromethanesulfoly)amide ([TFSA] − ) anion, to simultaneously achieve high ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and a wide potential window. Three different block copolymers, consisting of a SILincompatible A segment (polystyrene, PSt) and SILcompatible B segments (poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)) were synthesized. The SILs were solidified with the copolymers through physical cross-linking by the selfassembly of the PSt segment. The thermal and electrochemical properties of the polymer electrolytes were significantly affected by the stability of the [Li(glyme)] + complex in the block copolymer B segments, and the preservation of the SILs contributed to their thermal stabilities and oxidation stabilities greater than 4 V vs Li/Li + . Pulsed-field gradient spin−echo nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of the polymer electrolytes and molecular dynamics simulation indicate that the [Li(glyme)] + complex cation is unstable in the PEO matrix because of the competitive coordination of the PEO chain and glyme with Li + . On the other hand, the complex structure of [Li(glyme)] + is stable in the PMMA-and PBA-based polymer electrolytes because of the weak interaction between Li + and the polymer chains. By use of the PMMA-and PBA-based polymer electrolytes, 4-V class Li batteries with a LiCoO 2 cathode and a Li metal anode could be operated stably at 60°C; in contrast, this was not possible using the PEO-based electrolyte.

Electrochemical reactions in Li-S cells with a solvate ionic liquid (SIL) electrolyte composed of tetraglyme (G4) and Li[TFSA] (TFSA: bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide) are studied. The sulfur cathode (S cathode) comprises sulfur, carbon powder, and a polymer binder. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA-x) with different degrees of saponification (x%) are used as binders to prepare the composite cathodes. For the Li-S cell containing PEO binder, lithium polysulfides (Li2Sm, 2 ≤ m ≤ 8), reaction intermediates of the S cathode, dissolve into the electrolyte, and Li2Sm acts as a redox shuttle in the Li-S cell. In contrast, in the Li-S cell with PVA-x binder, the dissolution of Li2Sm is suppressed, leading to high columbic efficiencies during charge-discharge cycles. The compatibility of the PVA-x binder with the SIL electrolyte changes depending on the degree of saponification. Decreasing the degree of saponification leads in increased electrolyte uptake by the PVA-x binder, increasing the charge and discharge capacities of Li-S cell. The rate capability of Li-S cell is also enhanced by the partial swelling of the PVA-x binder. The enhanced performance of Li-S cell containing PVA-x is attributed to the lowering of resistance of Li + ion transport in the composite cathode.