Blend-based polymer electrolytes of poly(ethylene oxide) and hyperbranched poly[bis(triethylene glycol)benzoate] with terminal acetyl groups

Abstract

Blend-based polymer electrolytes, with favorable mechanical strength, consisting of a linear poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), a hyperbranched polymer (poly[bis(triethylene glycol)benzoate] with terminal acetyl groups), and LiN(CF 3SO 2) 2 salt, were prepared by the solvent casting technique. Thermal properties, ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability window, lithium ion transference number, and cyclic voltammetric behavior of the blend-based polymer electrolytes were all evaluated and discussed. In comparison with polymer electrolytes based on PEO, the blend-based polymer electrolytes exhibited improved lithium ionic conductivity and lithium/electrolyte interfacial performance. Blend-based polymer electrolyte with a hyperbranched polymer/PEO ratio of 20/80 in wt% and [LiN(CF 3SO 2) 2] 0.125 exhibited ionic conductivities as high as 8.1×10 −4 S cm −1 at 80°C and 3.8×10 −5 S cm −1 at room temperature. The electrochemical stability window was about 4.9 V. It was also demonstrated that crystallinity of the blend-based polymer electrolytes depends significantly on the hyperbranched polymer/PEO weight ratio as well as the lithium salt content.