Block Copolymer Electrolytes Synthesized by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization for Solid-State, Thin-Film Lithium Batteries

Abstract

Block copolymer electrolytes of poly͓(oxyethylene) 9 methacrylate͔-b-poly͑butyl methacrylate͒ ͑POEM-b-PBMA͒ ͑60:40 by mass͒ synthesized for the first time by atom transfer radical polymerization ͑ATRP͒ exhibited mechanical and electrical properties indistinguishable from those of materials made by the more difficult anionic polymerization method. ATRP offers distinct processing advantages as it is easily scalable and almost solvent-free. Solid-state, thin-film batteries comprised of a metallic lithium anode, a binder-free, additive-free, fully dense vanadium oxide cathode, and an electrolyte of ATRP-synthesized POEM-b-PBMA ͑60:40͒ doped with LiCF 3 SO 3 demonstrate resistance to capacity fade during extended cycling at a discharge rate of C/2, and perform comparably to otherwise identical batteries operated with the liquid electrolyte 1 M LiPF 6 in ethylene carbonate:dimethyl carbonate ͑1:1 by mass͒.

Graft copolymer-based lithium-ion battery for high-temperature operation

“…While the reactivity of liquid electrolytes with elemental lithium and potential dendrite growth during charging inhibit safe operation of lithium metal anodes in conventional lithium-ion batteries, GCE-based cells have shown themselves in long-term cycle testing to be immune to these undesirable behaviors [42,63,64]. We speculate that the GCE functions as a leveling agent to prevent localized runaway deposition of lithium.…”

Preparation and characterization of crosslinked cellulose/sulfosuccinic acid membranes as proton conducting electrolytes

“…Researchers have been interested in how polymer ionics can be used to construct electrochemical devices and how structure and transport are defined in a concentrated electrolyte with an immobile solvent. During the last decades, these materials have been used in solid-state lithium batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, chemical sensors, and flexible displays [1][2][3][4][5]. They were also successfully applied to a separation membrane for olefin/paraffin mixtures, using reversible interactions between metal ions and olefin molecules [6,7].…”

Proton-conducting composite membranes from graft copolymer electrolytes and phosphotungstic acid for fuel cells

“…Polymer electrolytes have received great attention because of their possible applications as solid electrolytes in electrochemical devices such as lithium rechargeable batteries [1,2], dye-sensitized solar cells [3], and facilitated olefin transport membranes [4]. In particular, proton-conducting polymer electrolytes, in which negatively charged ionic groups, i.e., SO 3 − are attached to the polymeric backbones, have been extensively investigated for the applications to fuel cells during the last decade [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”