Flexible and high ion conducting solid polymer electrolytes prepared via ring-opening polymerization

• Published in: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Vol. 705; no. 1; pp. 99 - 104
• Main Authors: Handayani, Puji Lestari, Choi, U Hyeok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis 02-07-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Bisphenol A; Conductivity; Crosslinking; Electrochemistry; Electrolytes; epoxy; Epoxy resins; High temperature; Ion currents; ionic conductivity; ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Ions; Lithium; Molten salt electrolytes; Polyethylene glycol; Polymerization; Polymers; Ring opening polymerization; Room temperature; Solid electrolytes; Solid polymer electrolytes; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 1542-1406; 1563-5287; 1527-1943
• DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2020.1743425

The chemical cross-linking of epoxy resin has been known as an imperative way to improve the mechanical strength and thermal stability of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). Herein, we prepare flexible epoxy-based SPEs with high ion conductivity for electrochemical devices via ring-opening polymerization. A diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) epoxy resin was selected as the mechanical supporting SPE matrix. The high flexibility of SPEs can be obtained by adding poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) plasticizer to the epoxy resin. Furthermore, the incorporation of electrolyte mixture of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salts and 1-butyl-3 methylimidazolium bis(trifluorosulfonyl)imide (BMIM-TFSI) ionic liquids allows for boosting ionic conductivity of the epoxy-based SPEs. Consequently, the high room temperature ionic conductivity ∼2.4 × 10
−3
S/cm was achieved in the SPE containing 30 wt% of the epoxy and 70 wt% of the electrolyte mixture.