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Title: Ion Dynamics in Ionic-Liquid-Based Li-Ion Electrolytes Investigated by Neutron Scattering and Dielectric Spectroscopy

Journal Article · · ChemSusChem
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [3];  [2];  [3];  [2]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [5]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Science Division
  2. Univ. of Augsburg (Germany). Experimental Physics V. Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Neutron Scattering Division
  4. Forschungszentrum Julich (Germany). Jülich Centre for Neutron Science
  5. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Science Division; Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

A detailed understanding of the diffusion mechanisms of ions in pure and doped ionic liquids remains an important aspect in the design of new ionic-liquid electrolytes for energy storage. Here, to gain more insight into the widely used imidazolium-based ionic liquids, the relationship between viscosity, ionic conductivity, diffusion coefficients, and reorientational dynamics in the ionic liquid 3-methyl-1-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (DMIM-TFSI) with and without lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li-TFSI) was examined. The diffusion coefficients for the DMIM+ cation and the role of ion aggregates were investigated by using the quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) and neutron spin echo techniques. Two diffusion mechanisms are observed for the DMIM+ cation with and without Li-TFSI, that is, translational and local. The data additionally suggest that Li+ ion transport along with ion aggregates, known as the vehicle mechanism, may play a significant role in the ion diffusion process. These dielectric-spectroscopy investigations in a broad temperature and frequency range reveal a typical α–β-relaxation scenario. The α relaxation mirrors the glassy freezing of the dipolar ions, and the β relaxation exhibits the signatures of a Johari–Goldstein relaxation. In contrast to the translational mode detected by neutron scattering, arising from the decoupled faster motion of the DMIM+ ions, the α relaxation is well coupled to the dc charge transport, that is, the average translational motion of all three ion species in the material. Finally, the local diffusion process detected by QENS is only weakly dependent on temperature and viscosity and can be ascribed to the typical fast dynamics of glass-forming liquids.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); German Research Foundation (DFG); German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; LU 656/3-1
OSTI ID:
1479749
Journal Information:
ChemSusChem, Vol. 11, Issue 19; ISSN 1864-5631
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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