This review article covers applications in which polymer electrolytes are used: lithium batteries, fuel cells, and water desalination. The ideas of electrochemical potential, salt activity, ion transport presented the context these applications. Potential is defined, we show how a cell potential measurement can be used to ascertain activity. parameters needed fully specify binary electrolyte (salt + solvent) presented. We define five fundamentally different types homogeneous electrolytes:...

Herein we present a solid electrolyte that adheres to the lithium surface and resists dendrite growth, both of which are needed for development high specific energy rechargeable batteries with metal anodes. Nanostructured lamellar block copolymer electrolytes exhibit solid-like properties in bulk, due presence randomly oriented granular structure, liquid-like formation perpendicularly lamellae at lithium-electrolyte interface. The amount charge can be passed before short circuit symmetric...

Charging ahead: Separate values for the simultaneous electronic and ionic conductivity of a conjugated polymer containing poly(3-hexylthiophene) poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-PEO) were determined by using ac impedance dc techniques. P3HT-PEO was used as binder, transporter charge Li+ ions in LiFePO4 cathode, which incorporated into solid-state lithium batteries (see picture; TFSI=bis(trifluoromethane sulfone)imide).

Lithium dendrite formation was studied in polymer electrolytes consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt (LiTFSI) dissolved polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers. Both Li-polymer-FePO4 batteries and Li-polymer-Li symmetric cells were cycled at constant current until voltage responses characteristic dendritic failure observed. The amount charge passed before this observation defined as the lifetime cell. Battery lifetimes found to be significantly longer than...

Performance of portable technologies from mobile phones to electric vehicles is currently limited by the energy density and lifetime lithium batteries. Expanding limits battery technology requires in situ detection trace components at electrode-electrolyte interphases. Surface-enhance Raman spectroscopy could satisfy this need if a robust reproducible substrate were available. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) larger than 20 nm diameter are expected greatly enhance intensity they can be assembled...

Understanding the fundamental factors that drive ion solvation structure and transport is key to design high-performance, stable battery electrolytes. Reversible desolvation are critical interfacial charge-transfer process across solid–liquid interface as well resulting stability of solid electrolyte interphase. Herein, we report study Li+ salt in aprotic solution immediate vicinity (∼20 nm) electrode–liquid using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) from a gold nanoparticle (Au NP)...

This study advances the development of flexible, sheet-type sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) for use in all-solid-state batteries, emphasizing important and previously insufficiently investigated role polymer binder entanglement. The molecular weight binders is pivotal crafting robust, freestanding SSE films. Our research uncovers a dual impact: higher bolster structural integrity films but elevate grain boundary resistance diminish critical current density, whereas lower...

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) are promising portable power sources. However, their performance diminishes significantly because of high crossover (flux) in the polymer electrolyte membrane (e.g., Nafion 117) at desired stoichiometric feed concentration. In this study, diffusion and sorption water 117 were measured using time-resolved Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. This technique is unique its ability to measure multicomponent within a on...

Understanding the dynamics of water in solid-state polymer electrolytes (e.g., Nafion) is important for a variety applications ranging from membrane-based purification to hydrogen fuel cells. In this study, Nafion was investigated at both low and high humidities with time-resolved Fourier transform infrared−attenuated total reflectance (FTIR−ATR) spectroscopy; technique that provides molecular fingerprint diffusant simultaneously real time. At (0−22% RH), an extended initial time lag...

Hybrid nanostructured materials comprising block copolymers, nanoparticles, and lithium salts have the potential to serve as electrolytes in non-flammable rechargeable batteries. Here we show that addition of functionalized at an optimized concentration, into lamellar copolymer electrolytes, results increase ionic conductivity. This is due occurrence a lamellar-to-bicontinuous phase transition, driven by nanoparticles. The magnitude conductivity consistent with simple model accounts for...

Electrolytes consisting of low molecular weight perfluoropolyether (PFPE), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) blends were prepared systematically studied for salt concentration stoichiometry effects on the materials' thermal electrochemical properties. Herein we report that tunable ratios PFPE PEG allow precise control crystalline melting glass transition temperature These blended liquid polymer electrolytes are inherently nonflammable remain...

Solid block polymer electrolytes are promising candidates for the development of high energy density rechargeable lithium metal based batteries. All solid-state batteries comprising negative electrode and iron phosphate (LiFePO4) composite positive were assembled. A polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (SEO) copolymer doped with a salt was used as electrolyte. After cycling batteries, reason capacity fade failure determined by imaging using synchrotron hard X-ray microtomography. These...

Centimeter-scale gold nanoparticle (Au NP) monolayer films have been fabricated using a water/organic solvent self-assembly strategy. A recently developed approach, drain to deposit, is demonstrated be most effective in transferring the Au NP from interface various solid substrates while maintaining their integrity. The interparticle spacing was tuned 1.4 3.1 nm alkylamine ligands of different lengths. ordering increased with increasing ligand length. surface plasmon resonance and in-plane...

Single-ion conducting polymers (SICs) are promising candidates for the next generation of safer polymer electrolytes due to their stability and high transference number. However, conductivity in SICs is often limited by mobility backbone as ion coupled segmental relaxations. We present blend electrolytes, consisting a precise single Li-ion with (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anion pendant group low molar mass poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy used probe both...

Hydrogen fuel cells are attractive alternative power sources for applications such as transportation; however, cell performance is a strong function of water equilibrium content and sorption desorption kinetics in polymer electrolyte membranes (e.g., Nafion). Although similar isotherms Nafion have been reproduced many laboratories, reported diffusion coefficients vary by 4 orders magnitude. In this study, dynamics vapor were measured activity flow rate using time-resolved Fourier transform...

A series of reactive poly(norbornenylethylstyrene-s-styrene)-poly(n-propyl-p-styrenesulfonate) (PNS−PSSP) block polymers were prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. Solutions containing PNS−PSSP, the cyclic olefins dicyclopentadiene and/or cyclooctene, and second-generation Grubbs metathesis catalyst prepared, cast as thin films, allowed to cure at room temperature a ring-opening polymerization mechanism. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data on cured films consistent with...

The ionic conductivity of a block copolymer electrolyte was measured in an situ small-angle X-ray scattering experiment as it transitioned from ordered lamellar structure to disordered phase. increases discontinuously the transitions order disorder. A simple framework for quantifying magnitude discontinuity is presented. This study lays groundwork understanding effect more complex phase such order-order on ion transport.

Polymer electrolytes are important materials in the manufacture of all-solid-state batteries due to their ionic conductivity, achieved by doping polymer with salt, and mechanical strength, use a block copolymer rigid block. High salt concentration is advantageous achieve high but it makes estimation battery performance difficult breakdown dilute-solution theory, which assumes complete ion dissociation. Therefore, practical design would benefit from an empirical understanding relationship...

Nafion(117) membranes in contact with acidic solutions were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering and acid solution uptake measurements. The principle of Donnan equilibrium was used to obtain independent estimates the extent counterion condensation from three experiments. surprising conclusion our study is that a large fraction protons Nafion are condensed form when membrane immersed pure water. Estimates range 72 98%.

Understanding the aprotic solution structures at immediate vicinity of solid/liquid interface (SLI) is critically important for next generation lithium ion battery development. Yet, it still challenging to investigate carbonate chemical profiles close diffuse layer (about 10 nm) electrical double SLI due lack a ultrahigh surface sensitive tool. In this work, we demonstrate commonly used solvents (ethylene (EC) and diethyl (DEC)) additive (fluoroethylene (FEC)) in commercial Li-ion...

Polymer blend electrolytes are reemerging as an exciting class of industrially relevant electrolytes. They replace both the solvent and salt conventional with polymers: termed polysolvents polyelectrolytes, respectively. In case lithium batteries, polyelectrolytes polyanions that release ions upon dissociation by polysolvents. This review defines classes electrolytes, provides benchmarks metrics for comparison, gives a background on polymer blends, detailed reports blend-based over past 17...

Abstract Using a three-phase system, centimeter-scale monolayer gold nanoparticle (Au NP) films have been prepared that long-range order and hydrophobic ligands. The system contains an interface between aqueous phase containing Au NPs oil one of various types amine ligands, water/air interface. As the diffuse to water/oil interface, ligand exchange takes place which temporarily traps them at ligand-exchanged particles then spontaneously migrate air/water where they self-assemble, forming...