Issue 39, 2021

Facile fabrication of robust gel poly(ionic liquid) electrolytes via base treatment at room temperature

Abstract

A mechanically robust gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with cross-linked networks is crucial for energy storage and conversion applications. Poly[1-cyanomethyl-3-vinylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide] (PCMVImTFSI) was treated via various bases at room temperature, leading to GPE membranes with high mechanical strength. The structures of the GPE membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state NMR and atomic force microscopy. The “cation–methylene–nitrile” group sequence embedded in the repeating units of PCMVImTFSI enables in situ cross-linking of nitriles under basic conditions such as with mild NH3 vapor, significantly improving the membrane formation ability of PCMVImTFSI. The maximum fracture strength of the NH3-treated membrane is 6.2 MPa, 8 times higher than those of membranes that were thermally cured at 200 °C for an equivalent time of 6 h. The crosslinking chemistry is viable with various cations and counter anions of PILs, thus representing a facile and effective method to prepare high-strength GPE membranes.

Graphical abstract: Facile fabrication of robust gel poly(ionic liquid) electrolytes via base treatment at room temperature

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Jun 2021
Accepted
12 Sep 2021
First published
13 Sep 2021

Polym. Chem., 2021,12, 5631-5639

Facile fabrication of robust gel poly(ionic liquid) electrolytes via base treatment at room temperature

C. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Q. Zhao and Z. Xue, Polym. Chem., 2021, 12, 5631 DOI: 10.1039/D1PY00736J

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