Single Lithium-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes Based on a Super-Delocalized Polyanion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are crucial for developing safer and more efficient lithium batteries.
• Current SPEs often face challenges with ionic conductivity and thermal stability.
• Developing novel electrolyte materials with enhanced properties is essential for advancing battery technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel single lithium-ion conducting polymer electrolyte.
• To evaluate the electrochemical and thermal properties of the new electrolyte for potential use in lithium batteries.
• To investigate the performance of a blended polymer electrolyte composed of poly[(4-styrenesulfonyl)(trifluoromethyl(S-trifluoromethylsulfonylimino)sulfonyl)imide] (PSsTFSI(-)) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the lithium salt of polyanion, PSsTFSI(-).
• Preparation of the LiPSsTFSI/PEO blended polymer electrolyte.
• Characterization of the electrolyte's glass-transition temperature, Li-ion transference number, thermal stability, and Li-ion conductivity.

Main Results:

• The neat LiPSsTFSI ionomer exhibited a low glass-transition temperature of 44.3°C, indicating a strong plasticizing effect.
• The LiPSsTFSI/PEO complex demonstrated a high Li-ion transference number (tLi(+) = 0.91).
• The electrolyte showed excellent thermal stability up to 300°C and achieved a Li-ion conductivity of 1.35×10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹ at 90°C, comparable to conventional SPEs.

Conclusions:

• The novel LiPSsTFSI/PEO blended polymer electrolyte possesses outstanding properties including high ionic conductivity and thermal stability.
• These characteristics make the developed material a promising candidate for solid polymer electrolytes in advanced lithium batteries.
• The study highlights the potential of polyanion-based polymer electrolytes for high-performance energy storage applications.