Science Daily December 7, 2022
A team of researchers in the US (Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, UC Berkeley) found that anchored solvent molecules can increase the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte without undermining its non-flammability. They developed a liquid-state polymer electrolyte composed of LiFSI salts, dimethoxyethane (DME) solvents, and polysiloxane tethered with ion-solvating moieties. DME coordinated with both the salt and the polymer, while, together with the salt, they synergistically plasticized the polymer to increase the ionic conductivity. The resulting non-flammable polymer electrolyte had a room-temperature ionic conductivity of 1.6 mS/cm and a wide operation window of 25°C–100°C. Benefiting from its liquid nature, the electrolyte could pair with commercially available electrodes without further cell engineering. According to the researchers their work extends the ionic conductivity range of polymer electrolytes and shows a promising design pathway for next-generation safe and manufacturable electrolytes…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Graphical abstract. Credit: Matter, November 30, 2022Â