Lithium Ion Conduction in Diblock Polymer Electrolyte with Tethered Anion

• Published in: ChemistrySelect (Weinheim) Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 595 - 599
• Main Authors: He, Yubin, Liu, Nian, Kohl, Paul A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27.01.2021
• Subjects: block copolymers; polyanions; polycarbonate; solid polymer electrolytes; transference number
• ISSN: 2365-6549; 2365-6549
• DOI: 10.1002/slct.202004595

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) may provide a path for next generation high‐performance, hazard‐free lithium ion batteries. However, the low lithium ion transference number (tLi+) and electrolyte conductivity limit device performance. In this study, a diblock copolymer with a polycarbonate first block and poly(sulfonated styrene) second block has been synthesized and characterized for conductivity and shows improved tLi+. The low dissociation of lithium salts from the tethered sulfonate anion was overcome by incorporating plasticizers. The diblock SPE material had room temperature conductivity of up to 1.95 ⋅ 10−6 S/cm, and lithium transference number of up to 0.83 with the tethered sulfonate anion. Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) may provide a path for next generation high‐performance, hazard‐free lithium ion batteries. However, the low lithium ion transference number (tLi+) and electrolyte conductivity limit device performance. In this study, a diblock copolymer with a polycarbonate first block and poly(sulfonated styrene) second block has been synthesized and characterized for conductivity and shows improved tLi+.