Feasibility of an Interpenetrated Polymer Network System Made of Di-block Copolymer Composed of Polyethylene Oxide and Polystyrene as the Gel Electrolyte for Lithium Secondary Batteries

Abstract

The feasibility of a di-block copolymer, composed of a polyethylene oxide (PEO) chain and a polystyrene (PS) chain covalently bonded, as the gel electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries was investigated. The PEO-PS di-block copolymer gel electrolyte showed a high ionic conductivity of ∼1 mS/cm at room temperature. Moreover, it retained good mechanical strength within a co-continuous phase separated structure, and it suppressed the dendritic deposition of Li. Indications were that the interface between the electrolyte and the Li metal was chemically stable, as a result of the PEO phase fixed to PS by covalent bonding. In addition, it was indicated that the Li/PEOPS di-block copolymer gel electrolyte/LiFePO4 cell had a high charge-discharge efficiency of ∼99% during 30 cycles, while maintaining a discharge capacity of 124 mAh/g.