Interconnection of smectic domains by polyethylene oxide networks for long-range conducting channels towards efficient and thermally stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Wang, Caihong; Li, Xueyong; Zhou, Jiwen; Tian, Wen; Ji, Junyi; Tan, Shuai; Wu, Yong

doi:10.1039/d0nr06360f

Cited by 7 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…This result revealed that the introduced PIL was just fitted into the original layered polydomained structure of ILC a without disturbing the original smectic molecular assembly. 31,35,36 A scatter peak standing for the crystallization of polymer chains was not observed for PIL-ILC a in the SAXS pattern of PIL-ILC a , which suggested the PIL chains in smectic PIL-ILC a were under an amorphous-state. In view of these, the PIL should only aggregate external of the smectic domains, 31,35 which is typical for polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal physical gels.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Smectic ILC a could only construct polydomained layered nanostructures via self-assembly, which formed lamellar iodide ion channels within the smectic domains of ILC a as we discussed previously. 29,31 The formation of highly polyiodide species channels was also revealed by Raman spectroscopy, as shown in the Supporting Information. However, the lamellar channels would be interrupted at the border of polydomains (Figure 3a).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…No new peak and no chemical band shift were observed in the FT-IR spectrum of PIL-ILC a by comparing with those of PIL and ILC a , which suggested that the molecular assembly of PIL and ILC a in PIL-ILC a was mainly based on physical interactions. 31 3.2. Nanostructures of the Electrolyte.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…32 However, ILC electrolytes suffered from limited efficiency for device applications, which was probably due to the charge transport gap at the polydomain interfaces. 23,31 The macroscopic orientation of ILCs could induce monodomain structures to construct long-range aligned channels for magnitude-enhanced ion conductivity. 17,18 Nevertheless, an aligning approach including an external force field and surface treatments could hardly tune the uniform structure for ILCs in the confined space of energy devices considering complicated issues such as the fabrication process, interfacial contact, and structure stability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, we showed that the segmental motion of flexible poly(ethylene oxide) self-assembling at liquid-crystal interdomains could improve charge transport in DSSCs. 31 However, the interfacial charge transport predominantly assisted by the random segmental motion of polymer chains was not that efficient, which only enhanced the conductivity by 1.3−2 times. Inspired by the polymeric-framework-assisted charge transport among ILC polydomains, we envisioned that a well-designed polymeric nanostructure for charge transport at domain interfaces may produce more efficient ion-conducting pathways for ionic liquid-crystal electrolytes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Poly(ionic liquid) Bridge Joining Smectic Lamellar Conducting Channels in Photoelectrochemical Devices as High-Performance Solid-State Electrolytes

Wang

Zhou

et al. 2021

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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Nanostructured ionic liquid crystals have emerged as promising electrolytes with the potential to satisfy the demands of both efficient charge transport and stability over conventional liquid electrolytes for advanced energy devices. However, traditional methods via the macroscopic orientation of ionic liquid crystals for charge transport intensification can hardly be achieved during practical device applications. Herein, a simple method was proposed to spontaneously construct long-range continuous conducting channels for significantly improving the charge transport of ionic liquid crystals in the confined space of energy devices. A poly(imidazolium ionic liquid) was designed and in situ prepared in a smectic [C 14 MIm][I]-based electrolyte for photoelectrochemical device fabrication. The composite solid-state electrolyte self-assembled microphase-segregation nanostructures, wherein the poly(ionic liquid) aggregated at the boundaries of layered smectic polydomains. The imidazolium iodide ions in the poly(ionic liquid) acted as imbedded ion tunnels at domain interfaces via π−π stacking and ionic interaction, which facilitated the charge transport crossing the interfacial gaps to join the intradomain lamellar channels as thermally stable and long-range continuous charge transport pathways. By using the poly(ionic liquid) to bridge the domain-interfacial gaps, the ion conductivity of the ionic liquid crystals was up to 7 times increased with a maximum value of 2.0 × 10 −3 S cm −1 , and the derived dye-sensitized solar cell could operate stably at 70 °C with a 2-times enhancement and champion efficiency of 8.2%. The approach here was comparable but more processable to traditional methods via the macroscopical orientation of ionic liquid crystals for charge transport intensification within energy devices, which have great potential to develop high-performance solid-state electrolytes to achieve the best balance between efficiency and durability for energy devices.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Poly(ionic liquid) Bridge Joining Smectic Lamellar Conducting Channels in Photoelectrochemical Devices as High-Performance Solid-State Electrolytes

Wang

Zhou

et al. 2021

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

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Lyotropic Lamellar Nanostructures Enabled High‐Voltage Windows, Efficient Charge Transport, and Thermally Safe Solid‐State Electrolytes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Ruan,

Lu,

Meng

et al. 2023

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Developing electrolytes combining solid‐like instinct stability and liquid‐like conducting performance will be satisfactory for efficient and durable Li‐ion batteries. Herein lamellar lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) demonstrate high‐voltage windows, efficient charge transport, and inherent thermal safety as solid‐state electrolytes in lithium‐ion batteries. Lamellar LLCs are simply prepared by nanosegregation of [C16Mim][BF4] and LiBF4/Propylene carbonate (PC) liquid solutions, which induce lamellar assembly of the liquids as dynamic conducting pathways. Broadened liquid conducting pathways will boost the conducting performance of the LLC electrolytes. The lyotropic lamellar nanostructures enable liquid‐like ion conductivity of the LLC electrolytes at ambient temperatures, as well as provide solid‐like stability for the electrolytes to resist high voltage and flammability overwhelming to LiBF4/PC liquid electrolytes. Despite minor consumption of PC solvents (34.5 wt.%), the lamellar electrolytes show energy conversion efficiency comparable to the liquid electrolytes (PC wt. 92.8%) in Li/LiFePO4 batteries under ambient temperatures even at a 2 C current density, and exhibit attractively robust stability after 200th cyclic charge/discharge even under 60 °C. The work demonstrates LLC electrolytes have great potential to supersede traditional liquid electrolytes for efficient and durable Lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) batteries.

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In-situ construction of dual-physical-network within ionic liquid crystals in photoelectrochemical devices for enhancing mechanical strength and charge transport as efficient solid-state electrolytes

Zhou

Wang

et al. 2022

Chemical Engineering Science

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Interconnection of smectic domains by polyethylene oxide networks for long-range conducting channels towards efficient and thermally stable dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: Development of efficient electrolyte combining fast charge transport and high stability for advanced energy devices remains huge challenge because these two characters are trade off in normal design. Nanostructured liquid...

Cited by 7 publications

References 34 publications

Poly(ionic liquid) Bridge Joining Smectic Lamellar Conducting Channels in Photoelectrochemical Devices as High-Performance Solid-State Electrolytes

Poly(ionic liquid) Bridge Joining Smectic Lamellar Conducting Channels in Photoelectrochemical Devices as High-Performance Solid-State Electrolytes

Lyotropic Lamellar Nanostructures Enabled High‐Voltage Windows, Efficient Charge Transport, and Thermally Safe Solid‐State Electrolytes for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

In-situ construction of dual-physical-network within ionic liquid crystals in photoelectrochemical devices for enhancing mechanical strength and charge transport as efficient solid-state electrolytes

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