Perpendicularly Aligned, Anion Conducting Nanochannels in Block Copolymer Electrolyte Films

Journal Article · Tue Mar 08 04:00:00 EST 2016 · Chemistry of Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b04452· OSTI ID:1258789

Arges, Christopher G.; Kambe, Yu; Suh, Hyo Seon; Ocola, Leonidas E.; Nealey, Paul F.

Connecting structure and morphology to bulk transport properties, such as ionic conductivity, in nanostructured polymer electrolyte materials is a difficult proposition because of the challenge to precisely and accurately control order and the orientation of the ionic domains in such polymeric films. In this work, poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) (PSbP2VP) block copolymers were assembled perpendicularly to a substrate surface over large areas through chemical surface modification at the substrate and utilizing a versatile solvent vapor annealing (SVA) technique. After block copolymer assembly, a novel chemical vapor infiltration reaction (CVIR) technique selectively converted the 2-vinylpyridine block to 2-vinyl n-methylpyridinium (NMP+ X-) groups, which are anion charge carriers. The prepared block copolymer electrolytes maintained their orientation and ordered nanostructure upon the selective introduction of ion moieties into the P2VP block and post ion-exchange to other counterion forms (X- = chloride, hydroxide, etc.). The prepared block copolymer electrolyte films demonstrated high chloride ion conductivities, 45 mS cm(-1) at 20 degrees C in deionized water, the highest chloride ion conductivity for anion conducting polymer electrolyte films. Additionally, straight-line lamellae of block copolymer electrolytes were realized using chemoepitaxy and density multiplication. The devised scheme allowed for precise and accurate control of orientation of ionic domains in nanostructured polymer electrolyte films and enables a platform for future studies that examines the relationship between polymer electrolyte structure and ion transport.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division; USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Scientific User Facilities Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1258789
• Journal Information: Chemistry of Materials, Journal Name: Chemistry of Materials Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 28; ISSN 0897-4756
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English