Ion‐Conductive Properties of a Polymer Electrolyte Based on Ethylene Carbonate/Ethylene Oxide Random Copolymer

A random copolymer of ethylene oxide with CO₂, namely, poly(ethylene carbonate/ethylene oxide) (P(EC/EO)), has been synthesized as a novel candidate for polymer electrolytes. Electrolyte composed of P(EC/EO) and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide has an ionic conductivity of 0.48 mS cm⁻¹ and a Li transference number (t ₊) of 0.66 at 60 °C. To study ion‐conductive behavior of P(EC/EO)‐based electrolytes, the Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) technique is used to analyze the interactions between Li⁺ and functional groups of the copolymer. The carbonate groups may interact preferentially with Li⁺ rather than the ether groups in P(EC/EO). This study suggests that copolymerization of carbonate and flexible ether units can realize both high conductivity and t ₊ for polymer electrolytes. High‐performance P(EC/EO) electrolyte is expected to be a candidate material for use in all‐solid‐state batteries.

     

PMMA基凝胶聚合物电解质双电层电容器的研究

以碳酸丙烯酯(PC)和碳酸乙烯酯(EC)作增塑剂,LiClO4作支持电解质,高比表面积活性炭为电极,内聚合法制作PMMA-PC+EC-LiClO4体系凝胶聚合物电解质(GPE)双电层电容器.应用交流阻抗、循环伏安、恒流充放电等方法研究了该电容器的性能.结果表明,PMMA-GPE的离子电导率在室温下达3.7 mS.cm-1,电容器的工作电压达3 V,比容量达41.6 F.g-1(I=1 mA.cm-2),等效串联电阻仅为几欧姆.     

Evaluating the electrochemical properties of PEO‐based nanofibrous electrolytes incorporated with TiO2 nanofiller applicable in lithium‐ion batteries

In the present work, nanofibrous composite polymer electrolytes consist of polyethylene oxide (PEO), ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were designed using response surface method (RSM) and synthesized via an electrospinning process. Morphological properties of the as‐prepared electrolytes were studied using SEM. FTIR spectroscopy was conducted to investigate the interaction between the components of the composites. The highest room temperature ionic conductivity of 0.085 mS.cm^?1 was obtained with incorporation of 0.175 wt. % TiO₂ filler into the plasticized nanofibrous electrolyte by EC. Moreover, the optimum structure was compared with a film polymeric electrolyte prepared using a film casting method. Despite more amorphous structure of the film electrolyte, the nanofibrous electrolyte showed superior ion conductivity possibly due to the highly porous structure of the nanofibrous membranes. Furthermore, the mechanical properties illustrated slight deterioration with incorporation of the TiO₂ nanoparticles into the electrospun electrolytes. This investigation indicated the great potential of the electrospun structures as all‐solid‐state polymeric electrolytes applicable in lithium ion batteries.     

Structural,thermal, and impedance properties of a gel polymer electrolyte containing ionic liquid

The gel polymer electrolytes composed of ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMImBF₄) and the copolymer of acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA) are synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR spectra, TGA, DSC, and AC impedance measurements. IR spectra show that there is an interaction between PEO side chains of the copolymer and imidazolium cations. TGA measurements indicate that the gel polymer electrolytes are stable until 120°C. By using the equivalent circuit proposed, the experimental data and the simulated data fit very well. The bulk resistance R_b is found to decrease with the increase in BMImBF₄ content. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of poly(vinylidene fluoride) on solvation of NaSCN in PEO

The blend-based electrolyte, polyethylene oxide (PEO)-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF)-NaSCN, was prepared and characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements at room temperature, and the effect of PVdF content on solvation and ion association was discussed over the content of 5-95%. It is shown that PEO has much stronger ability of solvation to NaSCN than PVdF does, indicating that the polymeric donor number is more important than its dielectric constant in solvating effect of polymer. However, PVdF can keep its semicrystalline nature and form microporous structure in blend-based electrolytes. These characters make PVdF not only enhance the mechanical stability of the electrolyte thin films, but also transform PEO crystalline phase into fully amorphous phase. Although PVdF can effectively disrupt the crystalline complex P(EO)(3)NaSCN, it does not affect the component of triple aggregations. In addition, the effect of PVdF content on ion association is also discussed in PEO-NaSCN electrolytes.     

Interactions of nanosized Al2O3 and ZnO with poly(ethylene oxide)-NaSCN polymer electrolytes

The effect of nanosized Al2O3/ZnO fillers on the interactions in PEO-NaSCN polymer electrolytes has been studied by FT-IR, XRD, and DTA measurements. The experimental results are discussed according to the grain boundary effect, the principle of Lewis acid-base, and epitaxial effect. It is shown that the hard Lewis acid centers on the surface of Al2O3 exhibit strong interactions with ether oxygens in PEO, even with ether oxygens that coordinated to Na+. Therefore, the modes of the interaction of Al2O3 with PEO-NaSCN electrolytes are dependent on the salt content. Al2O3 cannot influence the ionic association in P(EO)8NaSCN electrolyte, but do reduce significantly the solvating ability of PEO toward NaSCN in P(EO)60NaSCN electrolyte. However, NaSCN in P(EO)20NaSCN-30%Al2O3 nanocomposite appears as a state that resembles the situation of NaSCN in PEO amorphous phase. In contrast with Al2O3, the epitaxial effect of ZnO is not found in the interested systems where only weaker interaction is observed between ZnO and ether oxygen, and the modes of interaction of ZnO with PEO-NaSCN electrolytes are hardly related to the salt content. In addition, the soft Lewis acid groups on ZnO surface exhibit stronger complexation with SCN- in PEO-NaSCN electrolytes, and both can form the complex anion ZnO...SCN-.     

PEO/LiClO_4纳米SiO_2复合聚合物电解质的电化学研究

将实验室制备的纳米二氧化硅和市售纳米二氧化硅粉末与PEO LiClO4复合 ,制得了复合PEO电解质 .它们的室温离子电导率可比未复合的PEO电解质提高 1～ 2个数量级 ,最高可以达到 1 2 4× 10 - 5S cm .离子电导率的提高有两方面的原因 :一是无机二氧化硅粉末的加入抑制了PEO的结晶 ,是二氧化硅粉末和聚合物电解质之间形成的界面对电导率的提高也有一定的作用 .在进一步加入PC EC(碳酸丙烯酯 碳酸乙烯酯 )混合增塑剂后制得的复合凝胶PEO电解质 ,可使室温离子电导率再提高 2个数量 ,达到 2× 10 - 3 S cm .用这种复合凝胶PEO电解质组装了Li|compositegelelectrolyte|Li半电池 ,并测量了该半电池的交流阻抗谱图随组装后保持时间的变化 ,实验观察到在保持时间为 144h以内钝化膜的交流阻抗迅速增大 ,但在随后的时间内逐渐趋于平稳 ,表明二氧化硅粉末的加入可以有效地抑制钝化膜的生长     

Preparation and ion conductivities of the plasticized polymer electrolytes based on the poly(acrylonitrile‐ co‐lithium methacrylate)

The polymer electrolytes composed of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐lithium methacrylate) [P(AN‐co‐LiMA)], ethylene carbonate (EC), and LiClO₄ salts have been prepared. The ion groups in the P(AN‐co‐LiMA) were found to prevent EC from crystallization through their ion–dipole interactions with the polar groups in the EC. This suppression of the EC crystallization could lead to the enhancement of the ion conductivity at subambient temperature. The polymer electrolytes based on the PAN ionomer with 4 mol % ion content exhibited ion conductivities of 2.4 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at −10°C and 1.9 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 25°C by simply using EC as a plasticizer. In the polymer electrolytes based on the PAN ionomer, ion motions seemed to be coupled with the segmental motions of the polymer chain due to the presence of the ion–dipole interaction between the ion groups in the ionomer and the polar groups in the EC, while the ion transport in the PAN‐based polymer electrolytes was similar to that of the liquid electrolytes. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 247–252, 1999     

Ionic‐Liquid‐Based Polymer Electrolytes for Battery Applications

The advent of solid‐state polymer electrolytes for application in lithium batteries took place more than four decades ago when the ability of polyethylene oxide (PEO) to dissolve suitable lithium salts was demonstrated. Since then, many modifications of this basic system have been proposed and tested, involving the addition of conventional, carbonate‐based electrolytes, low molecular weight polymers, ceramic fillers, and others. This Review focuses on ternary polymer electrolytes, that is, ion‐conducting systems consisting of a polymer incorporating two salts, one bearing the lithium cation and the other introducing additional anions capable of plasticizing the polymer chains. Assessing the state of the research field of solid‐state, ternary polymer electrolytes, while giving background on the whole field of polymer electrolytes, this Review is expected to stimulate new thoughts and ideas on the challenges and opportunities of lithium‐metal batteries.     

Polymer electrolytes based on poly(ester diacrylate), ethylene carbonate, and LiClO4: a relationship of the conductivity and structure of the polymer according to IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical modeling data

New polymer electrolytes based on poly(ester diacrylate) (PEDA), LiClO₄, and additives of ethylene carbonate (EC) have a Li⁺ ion conductivity comparable with that of liquid electrolytes. The conductivity first decreases by an order of magnitude at an EC content of ??5 wt.% and then increases by three orders of magnitude at 55 wt.% EC. To understand the nature of this extreme dependence, a comprehensive study using IR spectroscopy and quantum chemical modeling was performed. It was found that the changes in the IR spectra with an increase in the EC content were stepwise to form at final stage the same absorption peaks that were observed for the IR spectra of LiClO₄ solutions in EC. The density functional theory studies of the energy and structures of mixed Li⁺ complexes and LiClO₄ with EC and PEDA, which was modeled by oligomers H-((CH₂)₂COO(CH₂)₂O) _n -CH₃ (n ?? 10) showed a stronger binding of the lithium ion with the polymer matrix in the mixed complexes with one EC molecule at a low content of EC resulting, most likely, in a decrease in the conductivity. Less stable mixed complexes with three EC molecules can be formed with an increase in the EC fraction and they become unstable in EC excess because of the transition of the Li⁺ ions to solvate complexes containing only EC molecules.     

阻抗虚部计算聚合物电解质电导率

用交流阻抗法研究了（PEO1）10LiClO4-Al2O3和（PEO2）16LiClO4－碳酸乙烯酯（EC）两种复合物电解质体系的电导率，给出了等效电路和各拟合元件的物理意义。当阻抗谱图发生严重变形时，提出一种比较简单的计算聚合物电解质电导率的方法－－阻抗虚部最大值法。     

Ionic Conductivity of β‐Cyclodextrin–Polyethylene‐Oxide/Alkali‐Metal‐Salt Complex

Highly conductive, crystalline, polymer electrolytes, β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD)–polyethylene oxide (PEO)/LiAsF₆ and β‐CD–PEO/NaAsF₆, were prepared through supramolecular self‐assembly of PEO, β‐CD, and LiAsF₆/NaAsF₆. The assembled β‐CDs form nanochannels in which the PEO/X⁺ (X=Li, Na) complexes are confined. The nanochannels provide a pathway for directional motion of the alkali metal ions and, at the same time, separate the cations and the anions by size exclusion.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Biodegradable Di‐ and Tri‐Block Copolymers Based on Ethylene Carbonate Polymer as Hydrophobic Segment

Synthesis of novel amphiphilic biodegradable block copolymers based on ethylene carbonate is reported in this study. Polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (MeO‐PEO) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) of varying molar masses are used as macro‐initiator for ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene carbonate in the presence of sodium stannate trihydrate as a heterogeneous transesterification catalyst. Earlier elution of block copolymer from macro‐initiator in size exclusion chromatography (SEC) indicated the successful synthesis of the block copolymers. Ratios of both types of blocks are varied systematically. Liquid chromatography at critical conditions is used for the analysis of the non‐critical individual blocks, and if there are any critical segments that are not attached to the non‐critical block. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the synthesis of ethylene carbonate‐based amphiphilic block copolymers. Chromatographic critical conditions of the ethylene carbonate polymer are also reported for the first time. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 1887–1893     

Silicone‐urethane membranes for lithium batteries. Part 1. Moisture‐cured poly(siloxane‐urethane‐urea) elastomers containing polyethylene oxide (PEO) segments – synthesis and characterization as potential membrane materials

Poly(siloxane‐urethane‐urea) elastomers containing both polysiloxane and polyethylene oxide (PEO) segments in the polymer chain were obtained by moisture‐curing of NCO‐terminated poly(siloxane‐urethane) prepolymers synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate and mixtures of polyoxyethylene diols and polysiloxane diols with various molecular weights. Mechanical properties of the moisture‐cured films and their swelling ability in solvent mixtures commonly used in lithium batteries were investigated, and it was found that they were greatly influenced by PEO content in the polymer. PEO content in the polymer was also found to affect very much the electric conductivity of the films after immersion in lithium salt solution in ethylene carbonate–dimethyl carbonate solvent mixture. At high contents of PEO in the polymer chain specific conductivities of the films in a range of 10^?3, Scm^?1 could be achieved at room temperature. Based on the results of Scanning Electron Microscopy with X‐ray Analysis (SEM/EDS) investigations and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and small‐angle X‐ray scattering studies, it could be anticipated that the reason for good conductivity of the films might be their specific supramolecular structure that potentially facilitated lithium ion mobility. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of plasticizers (EC or PC) on the ionic conductivity and thermal properties of the (PEO)9LiTf: Al2O3 nanocomposite polymer electrolyte system

A new plasticized nanocomposite polymer electrolyte based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)-LiTf dispersed with ceramic filler (Al₂O₃) and plasticized with propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC), and a mixture of EC and PC (EC+PC) have been studied for their ionic conductivity and thermal properties. The incorporation of plasticizers alone will yield polymer electrolytes with enhanced conductivity but with poor mechanical properties. However, mechanical properties can be improved by incorporating ceramic fillers to the plasticized system. Nanocomposite solid polymer electrolyte films (200–600 μm) were prepared by common solvent-casting method. In present work, we have shown the ionic conductivity can be substantially enhanced by using the combined effect of the plasticizers as well as the inert filler. It was revealed that the incorporating 15 wt.% Al₂O₃ filler in to PEO: LiTf polymer electrolyte significantly enhanced the ionic conductivity [σ _RT (max)?=?7.8?×?10^?6 S cm^?1]. It was interesting to observe that the addition of PC, EC, and mixture of EC and PC to the PEO: LiTf: 15 wt.% Al₂O₃ CPE showed further conductivity enhancement. The conductivity enhancement with EC is higher than PC. However, mixture of plasticizer (EC+PC) showed maximum conductivity enhancement in the temperature range interest, giving the value [σ _RT (max)?=?1.2?×?10^?4 S cm^?1]. It is suggested that the addition of PC, EC, or a mixture of EC and PC leads to a lowering of glass transition temperature and increasing the amorphous phase of PEO and the fraction of PEO-Li⁺ complex, corresponding to conductivity enhancement. Al₂O₃ filler would contribute to conductivity enhancement by transient hydrogen bonding of migrating ionic species with O–OH groups at the filler grain surface. The differential scanning calorimetry thermograms points towards the decrease of T _g , crystallite melting temperature, and melting enthalpy of PEO: LiTf: Al₂O₃ CPE after introducing plasticizers. The reduction of crystallinity and the increase in the amorphous phase content of the electrolyte, caused by the filler, also contributes to the observed conductivity enhancement.     

Effects of lithium salt and poly(4‐vinyl phenol) on crystalline and amorphous phases in poly(ethylene oxide)

Effects of a strong‐interacting amorphous polymer, poly(4‐vinyl phenol) (PVPh), and an alkali metal salt, lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), on the amorphous and crystalline domains in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were probed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy (OM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Addition of lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄, up to 10% of the total mass) led to enhanced T_g's, but did not disturb the miscibility state in the amorphous phase of PEO/PVPh blends, where the salt in the form of lithium cation and ClO anion was well dispersed in the matrix. Competitive interactions between PEO, PVPh, and Li⁺ and ClO ions were evidenced by the elevation of glass transition temperatures and shifting of IR peaks observed for LiClO₄‐doped PEO/PVPh blend system. However, the doping distinctly influenced the crystalline domains of LiClO₄‐doped PEO or LiClO₄‐doped PEO/PVPh blend system. LiClO₄ doping in PEO exerted significant retardation on PEO crystal growth. The growth rates for LiClO₄‐doped PEO were order‐of‐magnitude slower than those for the salt‐free neat PEO. Dramatic changes in spherulitic patterns were also seen, in that feather‐like dendritic spherulites are resulted, indicating strong interactions. Introduction of both miscible amorphous PVPh polymer and LiClO₄ salt in PEO can potentially be a new approach of designing PEO as matrix materials for electrolytes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3357–3368, 2006     

Evaluating the Free Energies of Solvation and Electronic Structures of Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrolytes

Adaptive biasing force molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the interaction of Li⁺ with pure carbonates and ethylene carbonate (EC)‐based binary mixtures. The most favorable Li carbonate cluster configurations obtained from molecular dynamics simulations were subjected to detailed structural and thermochemistry calculations on the basis of the M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. We report the ranking of these electrolytes on the basis of the free energies of Li‐ion solvation in carbonates and EC‐based mixtures. A strong local tetrahedral order involving four carbonates around the Li⁺ was seen in the first solvation shell. Thermochemistry calculations revealed that the enthalpy of solvation and the Gibbs free energy of solvation of the Li⁺ ion with carbonates are negative and suggested the ion–carbonate complexation process to be exothermic and spontaneous. Natural bond orbital analysis indicated that Li⁺ interacts with the lone pairs of electrons on the carbonyl oxygen atom in the primary solvation sphere. These interactions lead to an increase in the carbonyl (C=O) bond lengths, as evidenced by a redshift in the vibrational frequencies [ν(C=O)] and a decrease in the electron density values at the C=O bond critical points in the primary solvation sphere. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis (LMO‐EDA), and noncovalent interaction plots revealed the electrostatic nature of the Li⁺ ion interactions with the carbonyl oxygen atoms in these complexes. On the basis of LMO‐EDA, the strongest attractive interaction in these complexes was found to be the electrostatic interaction followed by polarization, dispersion, and exchange interactions. Overall, our calculations predicted EC and a binary mixture of EC/dimethyl carbonate to be appropriate electrolytes for Li‐ion batteries, which complies with experiments and other theoretical results.     

Structural conformation in a poly(ethylene oxide) film determined by X-ray emission spectroscopy

The electronic structure of pol(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in a thin (<1 mu) film sample was experimentally probed by X-ray emission spectroscopy. Both nonresonant and resonant X-ray emission spectra were simulated by using density functional theory (DFT) applied to four different models representing different conformations in the polymer. Calculated spectra were compared with experimental results for the PEO film. It was found that the best fit was obtained with the polymer conformation in PEO electrolytes from which the salt (LiMF6, M = P, As, or Sb) had been removed. This conformation is different from the crystalline bulk polymer and implies that film casting, commonly used to form electrolytes for Li polymer batteries, induces the same conformation in the polymer not depending upon the presence of salt.     

Electronic Structure Insights into the Solvation of Magnesium Ions with Cyclic and Acyclic Carbonates

A computational framework to rank the solvation behavior of Mg²⁺ in carbonates by using molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory is reported. Based on the binding energies and enthalpies of solvation calculated at the M06‐2X/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory and the free energies of solvation from ABF‐MD simulations, we find that ethylene carbonate (EC) and the ethylene carbonate:propylene carbonate (EC:PC) binary mixture are the best carbonate solvents for interacting with Mg²⁺. Natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses support the thermochemistry calculations with the highest values of charge transfer, perturbative stabilization energies, electron densities, and Wiberg bond indices being observed in the Mg²⁺(EC) and Mg²⁺(EC:PC) complexes. The plots of the noncovalent interactions indicate that those responsible for the formation of Mg²⁺ carbonate complexes are strong‐to‐weak attractive interactions, depending on the regions that are interacting. Finally, density of state calculations indicate that the interactions between Mg²⁺ and the carbonate solvents affects the HOMO and LUMO states of all carbonate solvents and moves them to more negative energy values.     

Poly(ethylene imine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) brush‐like copolymers: Preparation,thermal properties,and selective supramolecular inclusion complexation with α‐cyclodextrin

Poly(ethylene imine)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEI‐g‐PEO) copolymers were synthesized via Michael addition reaction between acryl‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether (PEO) and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI). The brush‐like copolymers were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is found that the crystallinity of the PEO side chains in the copolymers remained unaffected by the PEI backbone whereas the crystal structure of PEO side chains was altered to some extent by the PEI backbone. The crystallization behavior of PEO blocks in the copolymers suggests that the bush‐shaped copolymers are microphase‐separated in the molten state. The PEO side chains of the copolymers were selectively complexed with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) to afford hydrophobic side chains (i.e., PEO/α‐CD inclusion complexes). The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) shows that the inclusion complexes (ICs) of the PEO side chains displayed a channel‐type crystalline structure. It is identified that the stoichiometry of the inclusion complexation of the PEI‐g‐PEO with α‐CD is close to that of the control PEO with α‐CD. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2296–2306, 2008