Design Synthesis and Theory of Ion Transport in a New Class of SolidPolyelectrolytes

摘要

Polyelectrolytes, where anions are covalently bonded to the backbone have unittransference number for cations and are therefore, attractive for high energy density batteries. In this project, we prepared new polyelectrolyte materials and modeled the behavior of polyelectrolytes, to understand differences between polyelectrolyte conduction and polymer/salt complex electrolyte conduction. Major results include: (1) Reduction of the basicity of the anion in a polyelectrolyte by the development of aluminosilicate polyelectrolyte materials. (2) Development of nanocomposite polyelectrolytes, consisting of a polymer intercalated into clay materials. Demonstration that conduction in these materials is limited both by tortuosity effects and by the inherent mobility of the ion in the polymer. (3) Modeling demonstrates clearly that polyelectrolyte conduction will be reduced compared to polymer/salt complex electrolyte production, both because of the lack of anion mobility and because of higher average barriers due to rigidity of the polyanionic structure. We suggested a number of structural modifications that are likely to increase polyelectrolyte conduction.