Blends of POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) and high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) as solid polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries

Solid polymer electrolyte blends were prepared with POSS-PEO(n=4)8 (3K), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO(600K)), and LiClO4 at different salt concentrations (O/Li = 8/1, 12/1, and 16/1). POSS-PEO(n=4)8/LiClO4 is amorphous at all O/Li investigated, whereas PEO(600K) is amorphous only for O/Li = 8/1 and semicrystalline for O/Li = 12/1 and 16/1. The tendency of PEO(600K) to crystallize limited the amount of POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) that could be incorporated into the blends, so that the greatest incorporation of POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) occurred for O/Li = 8/1. Blends of POSS-PEO(n=4)(8)/PEO(600K)/LiClO4 (O/Li = 8/1 and 12/1) microphase separated into two amorphous phases, a low T(g) phase of composition 85% POSS-PEO(n=4)(8)/15% PEO(600K) and a high T(g) phase of composition 29% POSS-PEO(n=4)(8)/71% PEO(600K). For O/Li = 16/1, the blends contained crystalline (pure PEO(600K)), and two amorphous phases, one rich in POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) and one rich in PEO(600K). Microphase, rather than macrophase separation was believed to occur as a result of Li(+)/ether oxygen cross-link sites. The conductivity of the blends depended on their composition. As expected, crystallinity decreased the conductivity of the blends. For the amorphous blends, when the low T(g) (80/20) phase was the continuous phase, the conductivity was intermediate between that of pure PEO(600K) and POSS-PEO(n=4)(8). When the high T(g) (70/30, 50/50, 30/70, and 20/80) phase was the continuous phase, the conductivity of the blend and PEO(600K) were identical, and lower than that for the POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) over the whole temperature range (10-90 degrees C). This suggests that the motions of the POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) were slowed down by the dynamics of the long chain PEO(600K) and that the minor, low Tg phase was not interconnected and thus did not contribute to enhanced conductivity. At temperatures above T(m) of PEO(600K), addition of the POSS-PEO(n=4)(8) did not result in conductivity improvement. The highest RT conductivity, 8 x 10(-6) S/cm, was obtained for a 60% POSS-PEO(n=4)(8)/40% PEO(600K)/LiClO4 (O/Li = 12/1) blend.     

Highly ion conductive poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid polymer electrolytes from hydrogen bonding layer-by-layer assembly

We report the development of a solid polymer electrolyte film from hydrogen bonding layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly that outperforms previously reported LBL assembled films and approaches battery integration capability. Films were fabricated by alternating deposition of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) layers from aqueous solutions. Film quality benefits from increasing PEO molecular weight even into the 10(6) range due to the intrinsically low PEO/PAA cross-link density. Assembly is disrupted at pH near the PAA ionization onset, and a potential mechanism for modulating PEO:PAA ratio within assembled films by manipulating pH is discussed. Ionic conductivity of 5 x 10(-5) S/cm is achievable after short exposure to 100% relative humidity (RH) for plasticization. Adding free ions by exposing PEO/ PAA films to lithium salt solutions enhanced conductivity to greater than 10(-5) S/cm at only 52% RH and tentatively greater than 10(-4) S/cm at 100% RH. The excellent stability of PEO/PAA films even when exposed to 1.0 M salt solutions led to an exploration of LBL assembly with added electrolyte present in the adsorption step. Fortuitously, the modulation of PEO/PAA assembly by ionic strength is analogous to that of electrostatic LBL assembly and can be attributed to electrolyte interactions with PEO and PAA. Dry ionic conductivity was enhanced in films assembled in the presence of salt as compared to films that were merely exposed to salt after assembly, implying different morphologies. These results reveal clear directions for the evolution of these promising solid polymer electrolytes into elements appropriate for electrochemical power storage and generation applications.     

Studies on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) based solid polymer blend electrolytes complexed with various lithium salts

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high ionic conductivity and acceptable mechanical properties are of particular interest for increasing the performance of batteries. In the present work, SPEs based on poly(ethylene oxide)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PEO/PVP) with various lithium salts were prepared by solvent casting technique. The amorphous nature of the polymer-salt complex was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The complexation of the prepared electrolytes was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared analysis. Ionic conductivity as a function of frequency was studied at various temperatures in the range of 303–353 K. The maximum ionic conductivity value was found to be 1.08 × 10^?5 S/cm for the film containing lithium bis trifluoromethane sulfonoimide (LiN[CF₃SO₂]₂) at room temperature and the temperature dependent ionic conductivity values seem to obey Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher relation. Thermogravimetry was used to ascertain the thermal stability of the electrolytes. Photoluminescence measurements demonstrated that the sample having maximum ionic conductivity shows the minimum luminescence intensity. Ultra violet-visible analysis reveals that the values of the band gap energies were changed with the addition of various lithium salts. Porosity of the sample containing lithium bis trifluoromethane sulfonoimide (LiN[CF₃SO₂]₂) was studied by Atomic force microscope.     

Highly conducting solid electrolytes based on poly (ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide)

The conducting properties of solid electrolytes comprising random poly(ethylene oxide-co-propylene oxide) (of 84 : 16 monomer units mole ratio) and lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium, and rubidium salts have been studied. The systems containing some lithium or sodium salts achieved conductivity levels as high as 10^?5–10^?4 S/cm at ambient temperature and greater than 10^?3 S/cm at 100°C. However, the systems with rubidium and cesium salts exhibit conductivities a few orders of magnitude smaller. DSC studies show that the electrolytes studied are characterized by a high content of an amorphous phase (95–100%). It is suggested that the copolymer exhibits lower complexing abilities than that of poly(ethylene oxide), which results in a higher flexibility of electrolytes containing small cations and poor dissociation of the salts having large cations. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly(ethylene oxide) electrolytes containing mixed salts

An unusual conductivity enhancement occurs in PEO-based ZnBr₂/LiBr electrolytes of composition, [xZnBr₂ + (1 ? x)LiBr](PEO)₁₆ with x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00. The conductivity of the mixed-salt electrolytes is higher than that of either pure salt electrolyte. The highest conductivity, observed for x = 0.5, is two orders of magnitude higher than that of pure LiBr(PEO)₁₆ and one order higher than ZnBr₂(PEO)₁₆. In contrast, the conductivity of mixed Mg (CIO₄)₂/LiCIO₄ electrolytes, [xMg(CIO₄)₂ + (1 ? x) LiCIO₄](PEO)₁₆ where x = 0.00, 0.20, 0.50, 0.80, 1.00, increases monotonically with the mole fraction of the higher conductivity component, LiCIO₄(PEO)₁₆. The conductivity and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results suggest that the conductivity enhancement in the ZnBr₂/LiBr electrolytes results from a change in charge carrier type and concentration, whereas the conductivity change in the Mg(CIO₄)₂/LiCIO₄ electrolytes arises from a change in the microscopic viscosity of the electrolytes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ion conducting properties of poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolytes incorporating amorphous silica attached with imidazolium salts

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based polymer electrolytes containing amorphous silica attached ionic liquid (IL) were studied in order to improve electrochemical and interfacial properties. An imidazolium salt such as IL was attached to modified ceramic fillers. The modified ceramic fillers were amorphous silica with the immobilized 1-methyl-3-propyl-imidazolium bromide (MPIm-AS). PEO-based polymer electrolytes were prepared by using the solution casting technique. In order to investigate the ionic conductivity, studies on the modified filler addition effects on the ion-conducting behavior of polymer electrolytes having specific amounts of MPIm-AS were carried out. The addition of MPIm-AS in polymer electrolytes has resulted in higher ionic conductivity at room temperature. The structure, crystallinity, and morphology of the solid polymer electrolytes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscope measurement. The ionic conductivity was measured by an AC impedance method. The enhanced conductivity was dependent on the decreased crystallinity and the changed morphologies of composites.     

Model polyurethane networks prepared from poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(tetramethylene oxide)

Polyurethane elastomers of known degrees of cross-linking were prepared from hydroxylterminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) chains having numberaverage molecular weights in the range 880–6820 g mol^?1. The chains were end-linked into “model” trifunctional networks using a specially prepared aromatic triisocyanate. The networks thus obtained were studied with regard to their stress-strain isotherms in both the unswollen and swollen states, in elongation at 25°, and with regard to their equilibrium swelling in benzene at 57.9°. Values of the modulus in the limit at high deformation were in good agreement with corresponding results previously obtained on trifunctional networks of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Since PEO has a much higher value of the plateau modulus in the uncross-linked state, this agreement indicates that inter-chain entanglements do not contribute significantly to the equilibrium modulus of an elastomeric network. These values of the high deformation modulus are also in good agreement with recent molecular theories as applied to the non-affine deformation of a “phantom” network. The swelling equilibrium results were in very good agreement with the new theory of network swelling developed by Flory.     

Graft copolymers composed of high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) backbone and poly(N-isopropylacrlylamide) side chains and their thermoassociating properties

Novel, water-soluble thermoassociative graft copolymers based on high molecular weight (HMW) poly(ethylene oxide-co-glycidol) backbone and relatively short grafts of poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) were prepared. The copolymer precursors with two architectures (block and graft) were synthesized using Ca-amide-alkoxide initiators. The OH groups in the copolymer precursors have been utilized for grafting NIPAAm using ceric ion (Ce⁴⁺) redox initiation. The idea was to imprint the “smart” properties of PNIPAAm grafts into common HMW poly(ethylene oxide). The sensitive moieties undergo reversible association transitions by changing the temperature of dilute and semidilute aqueous solutions of the copolymers. Associative properties were studied by viscosity and rheology measurements. Two types of interactions, induced by heating, depending on the copolymer concentration namely intra- and intermolecular association were observed.     

Gamma irradiation effect upon positron annihilation in ultra high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide)

Positron annihilation technique was used to reveal the evolution of small pore structure of semi-crystalline ultra high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) under γ-irradiation. It has been established that the structure of poly(ethylene oxide) is improved under low dose irradiation (<20 kGy), while the concentration of free-volume holes in amorphous regions increases at higher doses. The results were compared with those from small angle X-ray scattering and wide angle X-ray scattering measurements of the same samples.     

Poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(2vinylpyridne)/lithium perchlorate blends as solid polymer electrolytes: Composition/property/structure interrelationship

Poly(ethylene oxide) (MW 600,000)/poly(2vinylpyridine) (MW 200,000)/LiClO₄ blends have been prepared by the solution blending process. The ionic conductivities of the blends containing lower weight fractions (15, 17.5, 20 and 22.5%) of poly (2vinylpyridine) initially increases as the salt content is increased, reaches a maximum at an ethylene oxide/Li⁺ mole ratio of 10 and decreases as the salt content is further increased. Blends, which have higher weight fractions of poly(2vinylpyridine) (25 and 35%) display different electric behavior, i.e., the ionic conductivity continously increased as the salt content is increased to an ethylene oxide/Li⁺ mole ratio of 2. Thermal, ⁷Li solidstate NMR and semiempirical MNDO molecular orbital studies indicate that this contrasting behavior may be explained by the structure and ratios of the solvates (mixed solvate or homosolvate) of LiClO₄ present in the blends. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effects of electrolytes on adsorbed polymer layers: poly(ethylene oxide)-silica system

The effects of various electrolytes on the adsorption of poly(ethylene oxide) onto silica have been studied. The salts were the chlorides of Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and La3+. The methods used were adsorption isotherms, found using a depletion method with phosphomolibdic acid, photon correlation spectroscopy, and solvent relaxation NMR. All the salts increased the particle-polymer affinity and adsorbed amount according to the adsorption isotherms, and a linear relationship was found between the initial slope of the isotherms and the ionic strength of the solution. Final adsorbed amounts were approximately 0.4-0.5 mg m(-2). The polymer layer thicknesses as found by PCS were of the same order as the radius of gyration of the polymer and increased with both the concentration and the valency of the salt due to increased adsorption. Solvent relaxation NMR showed that NaCl is too weak to have a noticeable effect on the polymer train layer, but the divalent salts clearly did increase both the strength of solvent binding close to the silica surface and the amount of PEO required to reach the maximum train density.     

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.     

Positron annihilation and differential scanning calorimetry investigations in poly(methylmethacrylate)/low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) polymer blends

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed in atactic poly(methylmethacrylate) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) polymer blends, prepared by codissolution in acetonitrile, covering the full range of composition. Results from the two techniques indicate that a “window of miscibility” is attained at around 20–30 wt % of the semicrystalline PEO. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1045–1052, 2000     

Mechanical properties of dual-phase polymer electrolytes prepared from poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber/poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) rubber mixed latices

Mechanical properties of two dual-phase polymer electrolytes (DPEs), prepared from poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber (SBR) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) rubber (NBR) latices, are studied. Both DPEs are composed of an SBR supporting phase and an ionconductive phase of NBR/lithium salt solution. The first DPE maintains a tensile strength of 0.5 MPa and elongation of 280% with an ionic conductivity of 10^?3 S/cm. Although the glass transition relaxations based on the dual-phase structure are not resolved in this DPE because of the proximity of the glass transition temperatures of the SBR and NBR, the glass transition shifts to a lower temperature due to the plasticization by the lithium salt solution. In the second DPE, two distinctive glass transition relaxations, corresponding to the SBR and NBR phases, are observed in the viscoelasticity versus temperature measurement, indicating the dual-phase structure. A simple equivalent mechanical model, which is modified from the Takayanagi model, is introduced to elucidate the mechanical behavior of the dual-phase structure in the second DPE. According to this model, 8% of DPE is a mechanically continuous SBR phase in the tensile direction, which effectively gives mechanical support to the DPE. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Poly(ethylene oxide)-polyurethane/poly(acrylonitrile) semi-interpenetrating polymer networks for solid polymer electrolytes: vibrational spectroscopic studies in support of electrical behavior

Studies on solid polymer electrolyte systems based on semi-interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(ethylene oxide)-polyurethane and poly(acrylonitrile) (PEO-PU/PAN) doped with lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF₃SO₃) is reported. Room temperature FT-IR analysis indicates a salt solvation process that occurs predominantly in the polyether segments of the semi-IPNs and incorporation of salt is also seen to favor a morphological change in the matrix with a transition from semi-crystalline to amorphous phase. From the relative band areas a critical concentration (C_c) of salt can be identified where concentration of ionic species, morphology and amount of transient crosslinks is optimal to impart maximum conductivity, which is in agreement with the room temperature conductivity results. Thermal analysis of the semi-IPN lends further support to this observation. The temperature dependence of conductivity is found to follow the Arrhenius behavior at low temperatures (∼ upto 328 K) and VTF dependence at higher temperatures. This crossover in temperature dependent conductivity is attributed to the change in the phase morphology of the semi-IPNs beyond the crystalline melting temperature (T_m1) of the polyether segments.     

Fabrication and anti-fouling properties of photochemically and thermally immobilized poly(ethylene oxide) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) thin films

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were covalently immobilized on silicon wafers and gold films by way of the CH insertion reaction of perfluorophenyl azides (PFPAs) by either photolysis or thermolysis. The immobilization does not require chemical derivatization of PEO or PEG, and polymers of different molecular weights were successfully attached to the substrate to give uniform films. Microarrays were also generated by printing polymer solutions on PFPA-functionalized wafer or Au slides followed by light activation. For low molecular weight PEG, the immobilization was highly dependent on the quality of the film deposited on the substrate. While the spin-coated and printed PEG showed poor immobilization efficiency, thermal treatment of the PEG melt on PFPA-functionalized surfaces resulted in excellent film quality, giving, for example, a grafting density of 9.2×10(-4)?(-2) and an average distance between grafted chains of 33? for PEG 20,000. The anti-fouling property of the films was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). Low protein adsorption was observed on thermally-immobilized PEG whereas the photoimmobilized PEG showed increased protein adsorption. In addition, protein arrays were created using polystyrene (PS) and PEG based on the differential protein adsorption of the two polymers.     

Interactions of inorganic salts with poly(ethylene oxide)

Evidence is presented for the interaction of metal salts such as potassium iodide with polyethers such as poly(ethylene oxide). This interaction is sufficiently marked that the incorporation of 10–30% of the salt in the bulk polymer markedly reduces crystallinity while retaining compatibility. Examination of electroviscous effects in methanol demonstrates that the salt–polymer adduct behaves as a typical polyelectrolyte at low salt concentrations, while the polymer in absence of salt is essentially insoluble in methanol at room temperature. Measurements of the equilibrium between salt and polymer along with a study of various molecular weight polymers strongly suggest that one salt molecule associates with about nine ethylene oxide units. It is proposed that the association is due to an ion–dipole interaction, and the anion is tentatively postulated as the species directly associating with the polymer. The association of other metal salts and other polymers are interpreted in this light. The significance of these results in interpreting salting-in phenomena is also discussed.     

Morphological study of low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) single crystals grown from solution

Single crystals of a low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) fraction have been isothermally grown from dilute solutions in amyl acetate by means of seeding with a polystyrene/poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer and then applying different crystallization procedures. The crystal morphology has been studied by optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. It has been found that the lamella thickness continuously changes with increasing crystallization temperature and no stepwise variations have been observed as for melt crystallized samples. The results have been compared with those reported for low molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) fractions and discussed on the basis of possible chain arrangements at the crystal surface.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of ionic association in poly(ethylene oxide)-NH4SCN polymer electrolytes

The polymer-ammonium complexes are an important class of proton conducting polymer electrolytes. In this work, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-NH(4)SCN electrolytes were prepared over a large range of the salt content, and their FT-IR spectra were measured at room temperature. Based on the assignments of each band in the spectral envelope of SCN(-1), their relative intensities are determined by the use of FT-IR technique. Following the experimental results and spectral analyses, this paper reports the interactions, the various ionic associations, the changes of the ionic association with NH(4)SCN content, and the characteristics of structure in PEO-NH(4)SCN electrolytes. It is shown that the hydrogen bonds of PEO and NH(4)SCN exert the great effect to the ionic association, the interactions of PEO with NH(4)SCN, and PEO crystallinity, in particular, under the condition of high NH(4)SCN content. In addition, the differences of ionic association among PEO-NaSCN, PEO-KSCN and NH(4)SCN electrolytes are also compared in this paper.