HIGH ELASTIC MODULUS POLYMER ELECTROLYTES SUITABLE FOR PREVENTING THERMAL RUNAWAY IN LITHIUM BATTERIES

• Main Authors: EITOUNI HANY BASAM, GOMEZ ENRIQUE DANIEL, SINGH MOHIT, PANDAY ASHOUTOSH, MULLIN SCOTT, BALSARA NITASH PERVEZ
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.05.2013
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRICITY; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TESTING

A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×107 Pa and an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10-5 Scm-1. The electrolyte is made under dry conditions to achieve the noted characteristics. In another aspect, the electrolyte exhibits a conductivity drop when the temperature of electrolyte increases over a threshold temperature, thereby providing a shutoff mechanism for preventing thermal runaway in lithium battery cells.