Abstract
The detailed study of the interplay between the physicochemical properties and the long-range charge migration mechanism of polymer electrolytes able to carry lithium ions is crucial in the development of next-generation lithium batteries. Glycerol exhibits a number of features (e.g., glass-forming behavior, low glass transition temperature, high flexibility of the backbone, and efficient coordination of lithium ions) that make it an appealing ion-conducting medium and a challenging building block in the preparation of new inorganic–organic polymer electrolytes. This work reports the preparation and the extensive investigation of a family of 11 electrolytes based on lithium glycerolate. The electrolytes have the formula C3H5(OH)3−x(OLi)x, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1. The elemental composition is evaluated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The structure and interactions are studied by vibrational spectroscopies (FT-IR and micro-Raman). The thermal properties are gauged by modulated differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, insights on the long-range charge migration mechanism and glycerol relaxation events are investigated via broadband electrical spectroscopy. Results show that in these electrolytes, glycerolate acts as a large and flexible macro-anion, bestowing to the material single-ion conductivity (1.99 × 10−4 at 30 °C and 1.55 × 10−2 S∙cm−1 at 150 °C for x = 0.250).
Highlights
The major challenge for the improvement of lithium secondary batteries is the development of stable electrolytes capable of efficiently transferring Li ions in a wide range of temperatures.Polymer Electrolytes (PEs) seem to be the right answer thanks to their mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrochemical stability, and good conductivity at room temperature [1,2]
Vibrational spectroscopies (i.e., FT-IR and micro-Raman) allow for the interpretation of the coordination geometry assumed by glycerol molecules as a function of lithium concentration
High-resolution thermogravimetric analyses demonstrate that the proposed electrolytes are thermally stable up to 170 ◦ C, while modulated differential scanning calorimetry measurements highlight that, as the content of Li+ is increased, the Tg shifts to higher temperatures
Summary
Centro Studi di Economia e Tecnica dell’Energia Giorgio Levi Cases, Via Marzolo 9, I-35131 Padova (PD), Italy. Material Science and Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Av.de la Universidad, 30, 28911 Leganes, Spain
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