Realizing the Potential of Micro-Phase Separated Block Copolymer Electrolytes: Ion Domain Connectivity Plays a Prominent Role in Ion Conduction

Journal Article · Mon Aug 22 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · ECS Transactions (Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/07514.1013ecst· OSTI ID:1417357

Arges, C. G.; Kambe, Y.; Dolejsi, M.; Wu, G.; Segal-Peretz, T.; Ren, J.; Nealey, P. F.

Block copolymer electrolytes (BCEs) offer the prospect of membranes with high ionic conductivity at lower ion-exchange capacities leading to membranes with robust mechanical properties. However, the microphase separated structure of such BCE membranes and its impact on membrane conductivity is poorly understood. Most studies assume that aggregated ionic domains in microphase separated BCEs, or random copolymers, is sufficient to foster facile ion conductivity. However, microphase separation alone cannot spur rapid ion conduction. In this paper, we demonstrate that ion domain connectivity greatly influences ion conductivity in BCEs. The results emphasize the importance of maximizing ion domain connectivity while minimizing terminal defects to realize BCEs with optimal ion transport properties.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science - Office of Basic Energy Sciences - Materials Sciences and Engineering Division
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 1417357
• Journal Information: ECS Transactions (Online), Vol. 75, Issue 14; ISSN 1938-6737
• Publisher: Electrochemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE