Polymer Electrolytes with Multiple Conductive Channels Prepared from NBR/SBR Latex Films Impregnated with Lithium Salt and Plasticizer

Abstract

Polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity (>10 -3 S/cm) and good tensile strength were prepared by swelling poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) (NBR)/poly(styrene-ce-butadiene) (SBR)/LiC104 latex films with ~y-butyrolactone (~/-BL) or LiCIOJ~/-BL plasticizer. Before swelling, the LiCIQ phase is formed at the particle interface. After plasticization, two ion-conductive channels are present: the LiCIQ phase is present at the interface of the latex particles, and the NBR phase is formed from NBR latex particles. These regions are polar and impregnated selectively with polar ~-BL solvent or LiCIOj~/-BL solution, building primary and secondary ion-conductive channels, respectively. The SBR phase (formed from SBR latex particles) is nenpolar and not impregnated, providing a mechanically supportive matrix. High ionic conductivity on the order of 10 -3 S/cm is achieved when NBR/SBR(50/50)/LiCIO4 latex film was saturated with 0.2 to 0.4M LiCIQ/~y-BL solutions. Various microscopic and macroscopic analyses suggest that two types of ion-conductive channels exist in the polymer electrolyte film.

Nano-Ordered Sea-Island Phase Separation of Ion-Conductive Elastomer Blends Based on NBR and Polyether Electrolytes

“…Here, we focused on the nitrile (CN) groups in the NBR. It is known that the polymers possessing CN groups such as NBR [16][17][18] and PAN 19,20) can dissolve many types of alkali metal (Li) salts and show good conductivities. Considering the fundamental properties of the CN group in the electrolyte materials, it has the strong electron withdrawing nature and can easily interact with Lewis acids such as alkali metal cations.…”

Blend & Composite Materials Based on Solid Polymer Electrolytes

“…Table 1 summarises the main polymer blend SPEs and their ionic conductivity. The blend type SPEs hitherto documented divide broadly into three categories: simple blend type [5][6][7], polymer electrolyte type [8][9][10][11], and elastomer type [12][13][14]. The simple blend SPEs, the type most often studied, are basically blends of PEO-metal salt complexes with other polymers.…”

“…An example is gel type electrolyte formed by impregnating an electrolyte fluid (such as LiClO 4 solution in g-butyrolactone) in an elastomer blend consisting of NBR and SBR. The electrolyte fluid preferentially impregnates the NBR phase of the NBR/ SBR blend, which forms a co-continuous phase-separation structure, the intention being to achieve effective ion transport via the network structure [12]. Another report [13] describes a single ion conductive SPE blend in which PEO oligomer containing terminal benzenesulphonate groups has been mixed with natural rubber (NR).…”

Effect of Humidity on Ionic Conductivity of NR/polyether Electrolyte Blends with Microscale Sea-island Phase Separation

“…The present study focussed on the use of acrylonitrile-buta diene rubber (NBR) as an elastomer that has both a relatively low glass transition temperature (T g ) and a high polarity. A number of studies of the application of NBR to SPE have already been reported [11,12], almost all relating to hybrid systems utilising liquid electrolyte (gels); none has sought to develop a "dry" SPE exploiting the intrinsic properties of NBR.…”