Performance of gelled-type dye-sensitized solar cells associated with glass transition temperature of the gelatinizing polymers

Poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) with their respective T_g of 6, 32, and 145 °C were employed to gel the LiI/I₂/tertiary butylpyridine electrolyte system for preparation of the gelled-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The light-to-electricity conversion efficiencies of DSSCs gelled by PMA, PVAc, and PNIPAAm were 7.17%, 5.62%, and 3.17%, respectively under simulated AM 1.5 sunlight irradiation, implying that utilizing the polymer of lower T_g to gel the electrolytes leaded to better performance of the DSSCs. Their short-circuit current density and IPCE also showed the similar trend. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the gelled DSSCs revealed that utilizing the polymer of lower T_g resulted in lower impedance associated with the Nernstian diffusion within the electrolytes. The results were consistent with the observation that the molar conductivity of gelled electrolytes was higher as the polymer of lower T_g was applied, which can be justified by Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) equation.     

Polymer electrolytes based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer

One of the approaches to improving the ionic conductivity and the mechanical strength of a solid polymer electrolyte is to use polymers in modified forms, such as polymer blends, copolymers and cross-linked polymers. In this study, a new polymer electrolyte based on the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer has been prepared. The ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability and interfacial characteristics of the polymer electrolyte in contact with a lithium electrode have been investigated. The temperature dependence of the conductivity below 20 °C can be described by the Arrhenius equation, and above 20 °C by the VTF equation. Lithium passivation appeared to have taken place in the system. The conductivity and electrochemical characteristics of the system are somewhat similar to those of PAN-based polymer electrolytes. Received: 9 December 1998 / Accepted: 9 March 1999     

Distinct difference in ionic transport behavior in polymer electrolytes depending on the matrix polymers and incorporated salts

Two different electrolyte salts, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (EMITFSI), were incorporated into network polymers to obtain ion-conductive polymer electrolytes. Network polymers of poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) (P(EO/PO)) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were chosen as matrixes for LiTFSI and EMITFSI, respectively. Both of the polymer electrolytes were single-phase materials and were completely amorphous. Ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes was measured over a wide temperature range, with the lowest temperatures close to or below the glass transition temperatures (Tg). The Arrhenius plots of the conductivity for both of the systems exhibited positively curved profiles and could be well fit to the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) equation. The conductivity of the PMMA/EMITFSI electrolytes was higher at most by 3 orders of magnitude than that of the LiTFSI/P(EO/ PO) electrolytes at ambient temperature. When the ideal glass transition temperature, T0 (one of the VTF fitting parameters), was compared with the Tg, a difference in the ionic conduction was apparent in these systems. In the P(EO/PO)/LiTFSI electrolytes, the T0 and Tg increased in parallel with salt concentration and the T0 was lower than the Tg by ca. 50 degrees C. On the contrary, the difference between the T0 and the Tg increased with increasing content of PMMA in the PMMA/EMITFSI electrolytes, with the observed difference in the concentration range studied reaching up to ca. 100 degrees C. The conductivity at the Tg, sigma(Tg), for the LiTFSI/P(EO/PO) electrolytes was on the order of 10(-14-)10(-13) S cm(-1) and increased with increasing salt concentration, whereas that for the PMMA/EMITFSI polymer electrolytes reached 10(-7) S cm(-1) when the concentration of PMMA was high. The ion transport mechanism was discussed in terms of the concepts of coupling/decoupling and strong/fragile for the two different polymer electrolytes.     

复合聚合物电解质的导电行为及电导率的测定

研究了乙烯碳酸酯（EX）增塑的（PEO）16LiClO4-EC复合聚合物电解质交流阻抗谱图，提出了不锈钢电极／聚合物电解质／不锈钢电极这种结构在交流阻抗测试分析中具有普适性的模拟等效电路，并且根据等效电路中元件拟合值测定出复合聚合物电解质体系在不同EC增塑量及温度时的电导率，用复合聚合物电解质体系中各组分之间的相互作用解释了EC对聚合物电解质电行为的影响，在低EC含量的复合聚合物电解质体系中，电导率和温度的关系在低温时符合Arrhenius方程，在高温时符合Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher(VTF)方程；而当EC含量大于20％时，电导率和温度的关系在实验温度范围内符合VTF方程。     

凝胶型聚合物电解质的电导率与温度的关系

凝胶型聚合物电解质的电导率与温度的关系孙晓光，林云青，齐力，景遐斌，王佛松（中国科学院长春应用化学研究所长春１３００２２）关键词凝胶电解质，离子电导率，活化能无定形聚合物电解质电导与温度的依赖关系一般可用Ｖｏｇｅｌ－Ｔａｍｍａｎ－Ｆｕｌｃｈｅｒｃ（Ｖ...     

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.     

Temperature and concentration effects on electrolyte transport across porous thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes: Pore transport mechanisms and energetics of permeation

The influence of temperature and concentration on nanofilter charge density and electrolyte pore transport mechanisms is reported. Crossflow filtration experiments were performed to measure transport of several electrolytes (NaCl, NaNO3, NaClO4, CaCl2, MgCl2, and MgSO4) across two commercially available thin-film composite nanofiltration membranes in the range 5-41 degrees C. Experiments were also performed with selected salts in the range 1-50 meq/L to quantify concentration effects. Three different approaches, irreversible thermodynamics, extended Nernst-Planck formulation, and theory of rate processes, were employed to interpret retentions of these symmetric and asymmetric electrolytes at varying temperature and concentration. Increasing feed water temperature slightly increased electrolyte reflection coefficients and only weakly increased permeability compared with neutral solutes. Electromigration and convection tended to counteract each other at high fluxes explaining the weak temperature dependence of the reflection coefficient. Changes in membrane surface charge density with temperature were attributed to increased adsorption of electrolytes on the polymer constituting the active layer. Activation energy of permeation for charged solutes was primarily determined by the Donnan potential at the membrane-feed water interface. Electrolyte permeation was shown to be an enthalpy-driven process that resulted in small entropy changes. Increasing sorption capacity with temperature and low sorption energies indicated that co-ion sorption on polymeric membranes was an endothermic physicosorption process, which appears to determine temperature dependence of electrolyte permeation at increased feed concentrations.     

Ion gels prepared by in situ radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in an ionic liquid and their characterization as polymer electrolytes

To realize polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, we exploited the high ionic conductivity of an ionic liquid. In situ free radical polymerization of compatible vinyl monomers in a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (EMITFSI), afforded a novel series of polymer electrolytes. Polymer gels obtained by the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in EMITFSI in the presence of a small amount of a cross-linker gave self-standing, flexible, and transparent films. The glass transition temperatures of the gels, which we named "ion gels", decreased with increasing mole fraction of EMITFSI and behaved as a completely compatible binary system of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and EMITFSI. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity of the ion gels followed the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) equation, and the ionic conductivity at ambient temperature reached a value close to 10(-2) S cm(-1). Similarly to the behavior of the ionic liquid, the cation in the ion gels diffused faster than the anion. The number of carrier ions, calculated from the Nernst-Einstein equation, was found to increase for an ion gel from the corresponding value for the ionic liquid itself. The cation transference number increased with decreasing EMITFSI concentration due to interaction between the PMMA matrix and the TFSI(-) anion, which prohibited the formation of ion clusters or associates, as was the case for the ionic liquid itself.     

含[BMIM]Cl-ZnCl2和非质子溶剂的凝胶聚合物电解质的合成

以烯类单体MA、MMA、HEMA为基质,通过原位聚合,合成了同时含离子液体[BMIM]Cl-ZnCl2和非质子溶剂的一系列新型凝胶聚合物电解质,用FTIR、AC、TG等方法对其结构和性能进行了表征。研究表明,聚合物电解质具有复合物结构;[BMIM]Cl-ZnCl2和非质子溶剂PC﹑DMC的加入使聚合物电解质的室温离子电导率大大增加,达2.83×10⁻³ S/cm,且与温度的关系符合VTF方程;聚合物电解质的热分解温度大于275 ℃,显示出良好的热稳定性。     

Influence of PEG-borate ester on thermal property and ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte

We have focused on the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-borate ester as a new type plasticizer for solid polymer electrolyte for lithium ion secondary battery. Adding the PEG-borate ester into the electrolyte shows the increase in the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte. By measuring the glass-transition temperature of the polymer electrolytes with DSC, it is found that the increase in ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolyte is due to the increase in ionic mobility. By investigating the temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes using William-Landel-Ferry type equation, we considered that the PEG-borate ester does not have any influence for dissociation of Li-salt. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of solvents on properties of polymer gel-electrolyte based on polyester diacrylate

New polymer gel electrolytes based on polyester diacrylates and LiClO₄ salt solutions in organic solvents are developed for lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries with a high ionic conductivity up to 2.7 × 10^?3 Ohm^?1cm^?1 at the room temperature. To choose the optimum liquid electrolyte composition, the dependence is studied of physico-chemical parameters of new gel electrolytes on the composition of the mixture of aprotic organic solvents: ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, and λ-butyrolacton. The bulk conductivity of gel electrolytes and exchange currents at the gel electrolyte/Li interface are studied using the electrochemical impedance method in symmetrical cells with two Li electrodes. The glass transition temperature and gel homogeneity are determined using the method of differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that the optimum mixture is that of propylene carbonate and λ-butyrolacton, in which a homogeneous polymer gel is formed in a wide temperature range of ?150 to +50°C.     

Novel composite polymer electrolytes based on poly(ether-urethane) network polymer and modified montmorillonite

Novel composite solid polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) and composite gel polymer electrolytes (CGPEs) have been prepared. CSPE consists of poly(ether-urethane) network polymer, which is superior to poly(ethylene oxide) in mechanical stability due to its cross-linked structure, modified montmorillonite (MMMT) and LiClO₄, and CGPE with good mechanical strength comprises of the CSPE and LiClO₄–PC (propylene carbonate) solution. The ionic conductivity can be enhanced after the addition of MMMT, and CGPE exhibits ionic conductivity in the order of 10⁻³ S/cm at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity of the CSPE follows the Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher (VTF) equation. The effects of MMMT on the interactions in these systems and the possible conduction mechanisms are also discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of all solid polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl acetate‐co‐acetyl ethylene oxide acrylate)

Poly(acetyl ethylene oxide acrylate‐co‐vinyl acetate) (P(AEOA‐VAc)) was synthesized and used as a host for lithium perchlorate to prepare an all solid polymer electrolyte. Introduction of carbonyl groups into the copolymer increased ionic conductivity. All solid polymer electrolytes based on P(AEOA‐VAc) at 14.3 wt% VAc with 12wt% LiClO₄ showed conductivity as high as 1.2 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the ionic conductivity followed the VTF behavior, indicating that the ion transport was related to segmental movement of the polymer. FTIR was used to investigate the effect of the carbonyl group on ionic conductivity. The interaction between the lithium salt and carbonyl groups accelerated the dissociation of the lithium salt and thus resulted in a maximum ionic conductivity at a salt concentration higher than pure PAEO‐salts system. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

辐照交联法制备锂离子电池用凝胶聚合物电解质及其性能

采用γ-射线辐照交联法制备了具有网络结构的聚偏氟乙烯-六氟丙烯/新戊二醇二丙烯酸酯(PVDF-HFP/NPGDA)基凝胶聚合物电解质(GPE). 考察了不同辐照剂量对凝胶电解质形貌结构、热稳定性和电化学性能的影响以及不同辐照剂量和不同温度下电导率的变化. 结果表明, 随辐照剂量的增加, 凝胶电解质的固化程度提高, 电导率下降. 电导率随温度的变化符合VTF方程. 当辐照剂量为5 kGy 时, 制备的凝胶电解质具有较高的离子电导率和电化学稳定窗口, 室温下分别为7.8×10-3 S·cm-1和4.7 V(vs Li/Li+). 以其为电解质制备的LiMn2O4∣GPE∣Li聚合物锂离子电池具有较好的循环性能.     

梳状丙烯酸酯类共聚物凝胶电解质的传输性能与自由体积

用三种分子量大小不等的聚乙二醇单甲醚(PEGME)与甲基丙烯酸甲酯-马来酸酐共聚物[P(MMA-co-MAh)]反应,制备了三种支链长度不等的梳状共聚物(MMA/MAh-g-PEGME), 并以此为基体, 加入增塑剂碳酸丙烯酯(PC)和高氯酸锂(LiClO₄), 采用溶剂浇铸法制备了三种凝胶聚合物电解质(GPE)膜, 研究了其离子传输性能, 发现该聚合物凝胶电解质的离子传输机理符合VTF (Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher)方程, 即离子传输性能与凝胶体系自由体积的大小有关; 采用正电子湮没寿命谱仪(PALS)研究了GPE 体系的自由体积特性, 获得了各支链长度不同的共聚物凝胶电解质的自由体积分数, 分析各自由体积与离子传输性能之间的关系, 建立了共聚物结构、凝胶聚合物自由体积及其传输性能之间的关系. 发现梳状共聚物支链长度越长, 凝胶电解质的自由体积越大, 离子传输性能越高.     

Safety-enhanced Polymer Electrolytes with High Ambient-temperature Lithium-ion Conductivity Based on ABA Triblock Copolymers

Liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries suffer from leakage,flammability,and lithium dendrites,making polymer electrolyte a potential alternative.Herein,a series of ABA triblock copolymers(ABA-x)containing a mesogen-jacketed liquid crystalline polymer(MJLCP)with a polynorbornene backbone as segment A and a second polynorbornene-based polymer having poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)side chains as segment B were synthesized through tandem ring-opening metathesis polymerizations.The block copolymers can self-assemble into ordered morphologies at 200℃.After doping of lithium salts and ionic liquid(IL),ABA-x self-assembles into cylindrical structures.The MJLCP segments with a high glass transition temperature and a stable liquid crystalline phase serve as physical crosslinking points,which significantly improve the mechanical performance of the polymer electrolytes.The ionic conductivity of ABA-x/lithium salt/IL is as high as 10-3 S·cm-1 at ambient temperature owing to the high IL uptake and the continuous phase of conducting PEO domains.The relationship between ionic conductivity and temperature fits the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher(VTF)equation.In addition,the electrolyte films are flame retardant owing to the addition of IL.The polymer electrolytes with good safety and high ambient-temperature ionic conductivity developed in this work are potentially useful in solid lithium-ion batteries.     

锂离子电池凝胶聚合物电解质研究进展

使用聚合物电解质可以避免传统液态锂离子电池的漏液问题,提高电池的安全性能和能量密度,并可实现电池的薄型化、轻便化和形状可变等优点.目前,聚合物电解质的研究集中在凝胶型的复合和多孔聚合物电解质两大类.本文对各类凝胶聚合物电解质的特点、功能及研究情况逐一进行了介绍,对凝胶聚合物电解质的发展趋势进行了展望.     

Cross-linking copolymers of acrylates’ gel electrolytes with high conductivity for lithium-ion batteries

The cross-linking gel copolymer electrolytes containing alkyl acrylates, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and liquid electrolyte were prepared by in situ thermal polymerization. The gel polymer electrolytes containing 15 wt% polymer content and 85 wt% liquid electrolyte content with sufficient mechanical strength showed the high ionic conductivity around 5?×?10^?3 Scm^?1 at room temperature. The gel electrolytes containing different polymer matrices were prepared, and their physical observation and conductivity were discussed carefully. The cross-linking copolymer gel electrolytes of alkyl acrylates with other monomers were designed and synthesized. The results showed that copolymerization can improve the mechanical properties and ionic conductivities of the gel electrolytes. The polymer matrices of gels had excellent thermal stability and electrochemical stability. The scanning electron microscope analysis showed the gel electrolyte was the homogeneous structure, and the cross-linking polymer host was the porous three-dimensional network structure, which demonstrated the high conductivity of the gel electrolytes. The gel polymer Li-ion battery was prepared by this in situ thermal polymerization. The cell exhibited high charge-discharge efficiency at 0.1 C. The results of LiFePO4-PEA-Li cell and graphite-PEA-Li cell showed that gel polymer electrolytes have good compatibility with the battery electrodes materials.     

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     

Enhancement of photocurrent of polymer‐gelled dye‐sensitized solar cell by incorporation of exfoliated montmorillonite nanoplatelets

Poly(n‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and its nanocomposite with exfoliated montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared by soap‐free emulsion polymerization and individually applied to gel the electrolyte systems for the dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Each exfoliated MMT nanoplatelet had a thickness of ～ 1 nm, carried ～ 1.8 cation/nm², and acted like a two‐dimensional electrolyte. The DSSC with the LiI/I₂/tertiary butylpyridine electrolyte system gelled by this polymer nanocomposite had higher short‐circuit current density (J_sc) compared to that gelled by the neat PNIPAAm. The former has a J_sc of 12.6 mA/cm², an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.73 V, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.59, which harvested 5.4% electricity conversion efficiency (η) under AM 1.5 irradiation at 100 mW/cm², whereas the latter has J_sc = 7.28 mA/cm², V_oc = 0.72 V, FF = 0.60, and η = 3.17%. IPCE of the nanocomposite‐gelled DSSC were also improved. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the DSSCs revealed that the nanocomposite‐gelled electrolytes significantly decreased the impedances in three major electric current paths of DSSCs, that is, the resistance of electrolytes and electric contacts, impedance across the electrolytes/dye‐coated TiO₂ interface, and Nernstian diffusion within the electrolytes. The results were also consistent with the increased molar conductivity of nanocomposite‐gelled electrolytes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 47–53, 2008