Enhanced electrochemical properties of polyethylene oxide-based composite solid polymer electrolytes with porous inorganic–organic hybrid polyphosphazene nanotubes as fillers

Solid composite polymer electrolytes consisting of polyethylene oxide (PEO), LiClO₄, and porous inorganic–organic hybrid poly (cyclotriphosphazene-co-4, 4′-sulfonyldiphenol) (PZS) nanotubes were prepared using the solvent casting method. Differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine the characteristics of the composite polymer electrolytes. The ionic conductivity, lithium ion transference number, and electrochemical stability window can be enhanced after the addition of PZS nanotubes. The electrochemical impedance showed that the conductivity was improved significantly. Maximum ionic conductivity values of 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at ambient temperature and 7.8 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 80 °C were obtained with 10 wt.% content of PZS nanotubes, and the lithium ion transference number was 0.35. The good electrochemical properties of the solid-state composite polymer electrolytes suggested that the porous inorganic–organic hybrid polyphosphazene nanotubes had a promising use as fillers in SPEs and the PEO₁₀–LiClO₄–PZS nanotube solid composite polymer electrolyte might be used as a candidate material for lithium polymer batteries.     

Improved properties of polymer electrolyte by ionic liquid PP1.3TFSI for secondary lithium ion battery

A new kind of polymer electrolyte is prepared from N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (PP1.3TFSI), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and lithium bis (trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI). IR and X-ray diffraction results demonstrate that the addition of ionic liquid decreases the crystallization of PEO. Thermal and electrochemical properties have been tested for the solid polymer electrolytes, the addition of the room temperature molten salt PP1.3TFSI to the conventional P(EO)₂₀LiTFSI polymer electrolyte leads to the improvement of the thermal stability and the ionic conductivity (x = 1.27, 2.06 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature), and the reasonable lithium transference number is also obtained. The Li/LiFePO₄ cell using this polymer electrolyte shows promising reversible capacity, 120 mAh g⁻¹ at room temperature and 164 mAh g⁻¹ at 55 °C.     

The network gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(acrylate-co-imide) and its transport properties in lithium ion batteries

Poly (acrylate-co-imide)-based gel polymer electrolytes are synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization. Infrared spectroscopy confirms the complete polymerization of gel polymer electrolytes. The ionic conductivity of gel polymer electrolytes are measured as a function of different repeating EO units of polyacrylates. An optimal ionic conductivity of the poly (PEGMEMA₁₁₀₀-BMI) gel polymer electrolyte is determined to be 4.8 × 10^–3 S/cm at 25 °C. The lithium transference number is found to be 0.29. The cyclic voltammogram shows that the wide electrochemical stability window of the gel polymer electrolyte varies from −0.5 to 4.20 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). Furthermore, we found the transport properties of novel gel polymer electrolytes are dependent on the EO design and are also related to the rate capability and the cycling ability of lithium polymer batteries. The relationship between polymer electrolyte design, lithium transport properties and battery performance are investigated in this research.     

Ionic conductivity in crystalline–amorphous polymer electrolytes – P(EO)6:LiX phases

Recent reports have indicated higher ionic conductivities in crystalline polymer electrolytes consisting of isostructural P(EO)₆:LiX (X=PF₆, AsF₆, SbF₆) phases relative to the analogous amorphous materials. These reports challenge the conventional wisdom in polymer electrolyte research that amorphous electrolytes are much more conductive than crystalline ones. The higher conductivity in the crystalline materials was attributed to the structures in which Li⁺ cations are located within PEO cylinders uncoordinated by the anions. The conductivity and crystallinity of P(EO)_n–LiClO₄ (EO/Li=6 and 10) electrolytes have been examined here. In contrast to the recent reports, much lower conductivities are found for the isostructural P(EO)₆:LiClO₄ crystalline electrolyte relative to the same fully amorphous electrolyte.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of aPEO-based polymer electrolytes

In this paper, the preparation and purification of an amorphous polymer network, poly[oxymethylene-oligo(oxyethylene)], designated as aPEO, are described. The flexible CH₂CH₂O segments in this host polymer combine appropriate mechanical properties, over a critical temperature range from −20 to 60 °C, with labile salt-host interactions. The intensity of these interactions is sufficient to permit solubilisation of the guest salt in the host polymer while permitting adequate mobility of ionic guest species. We also report the preparation and characterisation of a novel polymer electrolyte based on this host polymer with lithium tetrafluoroborate, LiBF₄, as guest salt. Electrolyte samples are thermally stable up to approximately 250 °C and completely amorphous above room temperature. The electrolyte composition determines the glass transition temperature of electrolytes and was found to vary between −50.8 and −62.4 °C. The electrolyte composition that supports the maximum room temperature conductivity of this electrolyte system is n = 5 (2.10 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at 25 °C). The electrochemical stability domain of the sample with n = 5 spans about 5 V measured against a Li/Li⁺ reference. This new electrolyte system represents a promising alternative to LiCF₃SO₃ and LiClO₄-doped PEO analogues.     

Acenaphthylene-1,2-diamine radical cation. Molecular structure of the [(dpp-BIAN)H2]·+[X]− complex ((dpp-BIAN)H2 is N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-acenaphthylene-1,2-diamine; X = Cl or I)

Oxidation of N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)acenaphthylene-1,2-diamine (dpp-BIAN)H₂ with silicon tetrachloride or mercury(II) chloride affords the [(dpp-BIAN)H₂]·⁺[Cl]⁻ compound. The corresponding iodine derivative, [(dpp-BIAN)H₂]·⁺[I]⁻, was prepared by hydrolysis of the reaction products of the magnesium complex (dpp-BIAN)Mg(THF)₃ with tetraiodosilane. X-ray diffraction study demonstrated that the [(dpp-BIAN)H₂]^·+ radical cation in these compounds chelates the corresponding halide anion. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 436–440, March, 2006.     

Adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cr(VI) by double hydroxides on the basis of Al oxide and Zr, Sn, and Ti oxides

It was studied the equilibrium adsorption and adsorption kinetics of Cu(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Cr(VI) by composite hydroxides formed by Me _x O _y · nH₂O and Me_0.4–0.7Al_0.6–0.3O _y · nH₂O, where Me = Zr, Sn and Ti. It was estimated the values of the diffusion coefficients of adsorbed ions Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from kinetic values. It was established that the estimated diffusion coefficients of adsorbed ions Cu(II) are in the range 0.4 × 10⁻¹²–2.5 × 10⁻¹² m²/s for individual hydroxides and 1.2 × 10⁻¹²–2.8 × 10⁻¹² m²/s for double hydroxides. The obtained values of diffusion coefficients Cr (VI) for double hydroxides are 0.1 × 10⁻¹⁰–0.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²/s.     

Kinetics of AgI precipitation from AgCl as affected by background electrolyte

Iodide retention by AgCl, a potential sorbent in high-level waste (HLW) storage systems, was determined. The kinetics and steady state sorption of iodide were determined in single and mixed electrolytes of NaNO₃, and NaCl at ionic strengths of 25 and 50 mM. Iodide retention involved the conversion of AgCl to AgI. This conversion increased rapidly within 0.02 hours, and retention maxima of 0.92 and 1.0 mol·l·mol⁻¹ Ag occurred for low and high ionic strengths, respectively. These short-term studies indicated that AgCl would be an effective scavenger of I⁻ in HLW containment systems.     

Preparation and ionic conductivity of poly(ethylene oxide) oligomers having thiolate groups on the chain ends

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) oligomers having alkali metal thiolate groups on the chain ends (PEO _m -S⁻M⁺) were prepared as an ion conductive matrix. The molecular weight of the PEO part (m) and the content of the thiolate groups in the molecule were changed to analyze the effect of carrier ion concentration in the bulk. In a series of potassium salt derivatives, PEO₃₅₀-SK showed the highest ionic conductivity of 6.42 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 50 °C. In spite of a poor degree of dissociation which was derived from the acidity of the thiolate groups, PEO _m -SM showed quite high ionic conductivity among other PEO/salt hybrids. PEO _m -SM had glass transition temperatures (T _g) 20 °C lower than other PEO/salt hybrids. Lowering the T _g was concluded to be effective in providing higher ionic conductivity for PEO-based polymer electrolytes. Received: 30 April 1999 / Accepted: 20 June 1999     

Ionic conductivities of the complexes of LiClO4 and alternating copolymers of oligomeric poly(ethylene oxide) having biphenyl units in the backbone

A series of copolymers of predominantly poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with biphenyl (BP) units in the backbone were synthesized. The solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) were prepared from these copolymers (BP-PEG) employing lithium perchlolate (LiClO₄) as a lithium salt and their ionic conductivities were investigated to exploit the structure–ionic conductivity relationships as a function of chain length ratio between the flexible PEO chains and rigid BP units. The ionic conductivity increases with increasing PEO length in BP-PEG. The salt concentrations in BP-PEG/LiClO₄ complexes were also changed and the results show that maximum conductivity is obtained at [EO]/[Li⁺]≈8. The reasons for these findings are discussed in terms of the number of charge carriers and the mobility of the polymer chain.     

Investigation of structures of PEO‐MgCl2 based solid polymer electrolytes

The crystallinity of polyelectrolytes has long been known to affect their ionic conductivity, but the effects of water of hydration on polyelectrolyte structure are not commonly studied. Here, polymer complexes consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with magnesium chloride (anhydrous MgCl₂, MgCl₂·4H₂O, and MgCl₂·6H₂O, respectively) have been prepared by a mixed‐solvent method. Fourier transform‐infrared measurements indicate each magnesium chloride salt can coordinate with PEO to form a complex. The structures of (PEO)_xMgCl₂·4H₂O and (PEO)_xMgCl₂·6H₂O complexes are similar, whilst the structure of (PEO)_xMgCl₂ complex is different to both. Wide angle X‐ray diffraction studies indicate in each polymer complex system the crystallization of PEO is depressed by the interaction of magnesium cation with the ether oxygen of PEO. PEO in (PEO)_xMgCl₂ and (PEO)_xMgCl₂·4H₂O are shown to be amorphous, but in (PEO)_xMgCl₂·6H₂O it is crystalline. Polar optical microscopy images indicate in each PEO/magnesium chloride system the crystalline morphology clearly changes with the increase of magnesium salt content. The reason for the formation of the spherulites with special morphology are the strong interaction between magnesium cation and ether oxygen of PEO, and the different evaporation rates of ethanol and chloroform in mixed solvent. A better understanding of the effects of hydration on polyelectrolyte crystallinity can help in improving their use in a variety of applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1162–1174     

Decay kinetics of benzophenone oxide in the liquid phase

The kinetics of self-termination of benzophenone oxide (BPO) in the liquid phase was studied by flash photolysis. The extinction coefficient of BPO (ε) was found to be virtually independent of the solvent nature, ε=(1.9±0.1)·10³ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The rate constant of the BPO self-temination increases from 1.8·10⁷ (MeCN) and 7.4·10⁷ (C₆H₆) to 1.5·10⁹ (n-decane) and 2.0·10⁹ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (n-pentane) at 293±2 K. Solvation of BPO promotes a polar state of the molecule in MeCN and C₆H₆. In nonpolar hydrocarbons, a great contribution is made by the biradical structure resulting in an increase in the rate constant and a shift of the absorption maximum to the long-wave region (from 410 nm in MeCN to 425 nm inn-pentane). In solutions of benzene and acetonitrile, benzophenone oxide reacts with the parent diazo compound with a rate constant of (2–4)·10⁵ L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ (293±2 K) along with the self-termination. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1329–1332, July, 1998.     

Electrical and electrochemical studies on magnesium ion-based polymer gel electrolytes

The development of polymer gel electrolyte system with high ionic conductivity is the main objective of polymer research. Electrochemical devices based on lithium ion-conducting polymer electrolyte are not safe due to the explosive nature of lithium. An attempt has been made to synthesize magnesium ion-conducting polymeric gel electrolytes, poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)–propylene carbonate–magnesium perchlorate, PVdF(HFP)-PC–Mg(ClO₄)₂ using standard solution-cast techniques. The maximum room temperature ionic conductivity of the synthesized electrolyte system has been observed to be 5.0 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, which is quite acceptable from a device fabrication point of view. The temperature-dependent conductivity and the dielectric behavior were also analyzed. The pattern of the temperature-dependent conductivity shows the Arrhenius behavior. The dielectric constant ε _r and dielectric loss ε _i increases with temperature in the low-frequency region but almost negligible in the high-frequency region. This behavior can be explained on the basis of electrode polarization effects. The real part M _r and imaginary part M _i versus frequency indicate that the systems are predominantly ionic conductors. Further, the synthesized electrolyte materials have been checked for its suitability in energy storage devices namely redox supercapacitor with conducting polymer polypyrrole as electrode materials, and finally, it was observed that it shows good capacitive behavior in low-frequency region. Preliminary studies show that the overall capacitance of 22 mF cm⁻² which is equivalent to a single electrode specific capacitance of 117 F gm⁻¹ was observed for the above said supercapacitors.     

Electrochemical Performance of PEO10LiX-Li2TiO3 Composite Polymer Electrolytes

Introduction Recently, polymer electrolytes have attracted much attention for their potential use in replacing flammable organic solvent electrolytes currently used in lith-ium-ion batteries, thus improving the safety of re-chargeable lithium batteries. Moreover, the batteries with PE can be made in any shape, which make fully use of the space of electronic devices. PEO is a linear polymer with helix structure, and its structure makes it have much higher dissolution ability for salt even tho…     

Synthesis,structure and properties of complex compounds of cobalt,nickel, copper and zinc with 2-formylpyridine semicarbazone

2-Formylpyridine semicarbazone L reacts with cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc chlorides, nitrates and perchlorites to form coordination compounds of compositions ML₂X₂·nH₂O (M=Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; X = Cl, NO₃, ClO₄; L = NC₅H₄-CH=N-NH-C(O)-NH₂; n = 0, 1) and CuLX₂·nH₂O (X = Cl, Br, NO₃; n = 0−0.5). Complex CuL(NO₃)₂ has polynuclear, CuLX₂·0.5H₂O (X = Cl, Br), binuclear, and other compounds, mononuclear structures. Azomethine L behaves in them as tridental N,N,O-ligand. Thermolysis of these complexes proceeds through such stages as dehydration (80–95°C), deactivation (145–155°C) and complete theral degradation (170–590°C). Complexes CuLX₂·nH₂O (X = Cl, NO₃; n = 0−0.5) were established to inhibit in vitro the growth and reproduction of 100% of cancer cells of human mieloid leukaemia HL-60 at 10⁻⁴ M concentration. At 10⁻⁵ M concentration they inhibit only 10% of cells, and at 10⁻⁶ M concentration they do not possess anticancer activity.     

Syntheses,weak interactions, 3D network structures and magnetic properties of two salts based on bis(maleonitriledithiolate)copper(II) anion and substituted triphenylphosphonium cation

Two new salts, [BzTPP]₂[Cu(mnt)₂] (1) and [4NO₂BzTPP]₂[Cu(mnt)₂] (2) (BzTPP⁺ = benzyltriphenylphosphonium and mnt²⁻ = maleonitriledithiolate) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, UV, IR, molar conductivity and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The single-crystal structure analysis shows that 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, while 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P−1. The effects of weak intramolecular interactions such as C–H···O, C–H···S, C–H···N, C–H···Cu hydrogen bonds and p···π, π···π stacking interactions in the solids generate a 3D network structure. It is noted that the change in the molecular topology of the counteraction when the 4-substituted group in the benzyl ring is changed from H to NO₂ results in differences in the crystal system, space group, weak interactions and the stacking mode of the cations and anions of 1 and 2. The magnetic susceptibilities of these salts measured in the temperature range 2.0 to 300 K show weak ferromagnetic coupling features with θ = 2.05 × 10⁻² K for 1 and 5.13 × 10⁻³ K for 2.     

Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers for recognition of ciprofloxacin

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), with special molecule recognition properties of ciprofloxacin (CIP), was prepared by thermal polymerization in which ciprofloxacin acted as template molecule, α-methacrylic acid (MAA) acted as functional monomer and trimethylolpropane trimethylacrylate (TRIM) acted as crosslinker. The optimized ratio was determined to be n(CIP): n (MMA):n(TRIM)51:6:16 by investigation of the effects of different concentrations of functional monomer and the crosslinker on the MIP’s recognition properties. Equilibrium binding experiment was used to investigate the adsorption dynamics, the binding ability to template molecule and the substrate selectivity. Scatchard analysis was used to study the MIP’s binding characteristic to template molecule. The results indicated that MIP has higher adsorption ability and selectivity. The equilibrium distribution coefficient K _D was 41.64 and the separation factor α was 1.62. Scatchard analysis showed that two different kinds of binding sites were produced in the polymer matrix and their dissociation constants were calculated to be K _d1 = 5.249 × 10⁻⁵ mol·L⁻¹, K _d2 = 2.237 × 10⁻³ mol·L⁻¹. __________ Translated from Chemistry, 2008, 71(2): 132–137     

Effects of PEO length and phenyl unit structure on ionic conductivities of the complexes of LiClO4 and alternating copolymers of PEO having various phenyl units in the backbone

A series of copolymers of predominantly poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with mono-phenyl (HQ), biphenyl (BP) units, or both of them (HQ/BP) in the backbone were synthesized. The solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) were prepared from three different types of copolymers (HQ-PEG, BP-PEG, and HQ/BP-PEG) employing lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as a lithium salt at a fixed salt concentration of [EO]/[Li⁺]=8. Their ionic conductivities were investigated to exploit the structure–ionic conductivity relationships as a function of structural change in rigid phenyl units and chain length ratio between flexible PEO chain and rigid phenyl units. As more rigid phenyl units were incorporated in the backbone chain, the formation inter- and intra-molecular complex with LiClO₄ became weaker and lower ionic conductivities were observed. And it was also found that higher ionic conductivity is obtained with increasing PEO chain length because inter- and intra-molecular dissociation power of PEO increases.     

A polymer electrolyte containing ionic liquid for possible applications in photoelectrochemical solar cells

Various iodide ion conducting polymer electrolytes have been studied as candidate materials for fabricating photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cells and energy storage devices. In this study, enhanced ionic conductivity values were obtained for the ionic liquid tetrahexylammonium iodide containing polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based plasticized electrolytes. The analysis of thermal properties revealed the existence of two phases in the electrolyte, and the conductivity measurements showed a marked conductivity enhancement during the melting of the plasticizer-rich phase of the electrolyte. Annealed electrolyte samples showed better conductivity than nonannealed samples, revealing the existence of hysteresis. The optimum conductivity was shown for the electrolytes with PEO:salt = 100:15 mass ratio, and this sample exhibited the minimum glass transition temperature of 72.2 °C. For this optimum PEO to salt ratio, the conductivity of nonannealed electrolyte was 4.4 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ and that of the annealed sample was 4.6 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 30 °C. An all solid PEC solar cell was fabricated using this annealed electrolyte. The short circuit current density (I _SC), the open circuit voltage (V _OC), and the power conversion efficiency of the cell are 0.63 mA cm⁻², 0.76 V, and 0.47% under the irradiation of 600 W m⁻² light.     

Mobilities and ion-pairing in LiB(OH)4 and NaB(OH)4 aqueous solutions. A conductivity study

The conductivities of aqueous solutions of sodium borate at 25°C and lithium borate at various temperatures are reported. The conductivity of the B(OH) ₄ ⁻ ion is 35.3 ±0.2 S-cm²-mole⁻¹ at 25°C. The electrolytes are both associated, the lithium salt being more associated than the sodium salt. The mobilities and association constants obtained from the conductivity data agree with a model recently proposed for the H₂O−B(OH) ₄ ⁻ interactions. A discrepancy in the reported thermodynamic behavior of NaB(OH)₄ aqueous solutions has been resolved by means of the association constants obtained in the present study. Thus the usefulness of the conductivity measurements to determine excess chemical potentials of binary electrolytes in dilute solution is again shown.