Polymer network formation mechanism of multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol)s in ionic liquid electrolyte with a lithium salt

Abstract

We report a controlled polymer network gel electrolyte based on a multifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) prepolymer (herein, tetrafunctional PEGs (tetra-PEGs) and bisfunctional linear PEGs (linear-PEGs)) and an ionic liquid (IL)-based...

Structure and Dynamic Evolution of Interfaces between Polymer Solutions and Gels and Polymer Interdiffusion: A Molecular Dynamics Study

“…This choice of network topology was motivated by our experimental work mentioned above, where the core gel was synthesized by free radical polymerization involving tetrafunctional cross-linkers [ N , N′ -methylenebis­(acrylamide)]. Our model network could also represent tetra-PEG gels, , which consist of symmetrical tetrahedron-like (four-arm) PEG networks with excellent physical properties that are attributed to a high homogeneity of the network. − To study possible effects of elastic strain, we compare two cases: slabs of isotropic gels and slabs of anisotropic gels which were deformed with a ratio very close to 2:1 in the lateral direction.…”

Polymer dispersed ionic liquid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity for ultrastable solid‐state lithium batteries

“…Among them, the polymer/ionic liquid system has been well studied because of the high ionic conductivity and nonvolatile properties of ionic liquids. 28,29 Nevertheless, the traditional solvent-casting method to build SPEs is usually energy-intensive and has poor reproducibility, making it difficult for large-scale processing. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Polymerizationinduced phase separation (PIPS) is another processing method for composites, with which the domain size and connectivity of different separated phases can be adjusted during the polymerization process.…”

“…28,29 Nevertheless, the traditional solvent-casting method to build SPEs is usually energy-intensive and has poor reproducibility, making it difficult for large-scale processing. [28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Polymerizationinduced phase separation (PIPS) is another processing method for composites, with which the domain size and connectivity of different separated phases can be adjusted during the polymerization process. 5,[35][36][37][38] The in situ processing using PIPS to construct SPEs for LIBs is usually carried out using the separator-assisted approach, 39 in which the polymerized precursor is injected into the preassembled battery with a separator for subsequent assembly and in-cell polymerization, 4,6 but the inactive separator limits the ion-conduction of SPEs and the monomer may be reactive with Li-metal for LMBs.…”

“…To address the aforementioned issues, tremendous methods have been developed over the past few decades, including designing new polymer structures, 20,21 compositing polymer with additives, 5,22–24 reinforcing SPEs with nonwoven, 25–27 and so forth. Among them, the polymer/ionic liquid system has been well studied because of the high ionic conductivity and nonvolatile properties of ionic liquids 28,29 . Nevertheless, the traditional solvent‐casting method to build SPEs is usually energy‐intensive and has poor reproducibility, making it difficult for large‐scale processing 28–34 .…”

Polyether-based solid electrolytes with a homogeneous polymer network: effect of the salt concentration on the Li-ion coordination structure

“…[21][22][23] This TetraPEG gelation can be applied to various complex solutions, such as ionic liquid-and organic solvent-based electrolyte solutions containing Li salt, as well as aqueous solutions. [24][25][26][27][28] The resulting TetraPEG gels exhibit high mechanical strength even at low polymer concentrations (o5 wt%) and can be used to realize Li-ion battery gel electrolytes with a high ionic conductivity comparable to that of liquid electrolytes. [28][29][30][31] Recently, Tosa et al reported a solid polymer electrolyte based on a homogeneous TetraPEG network and Li salt, which they synthesized via a Michael addition reaction between TetraPEG-MA and TetraPEG-NH 2 prepolymers in organic electrolyte solutions at high temperature (333 K).…”