Abstract
A novel strategy, herein, is demonstrated for improving comprehensive properties of poly (methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a core-shell PMMA-grafted ordered mesoporous silica (OMS-g-PMMA). The OMS-g-PMMA was synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate from the exterior surface of OMS particle. A series of PMMA-based GPE membrances, filled with the OMS-g-PMMA of different contents, were further prepared by solution casting technique. The OMS-g-PMMA was confirmed to possess regular core-shell structure, in which a PMMA shell is chemically grafted to the exterior surface of silica core remaining intact mesoporous characteristics. Compared to the bare OMS, the OMS-g-PMMA is found to more effectively improve the comprehensive properties of PMMA-based GPE including ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties as well. For the PMMA-based GPE filled with 15 phr OMS-g-PMMA, the ionic conductivity at 25°C reaches 1.59 × 10−4 S⋅cm−1, which is higher by nearly two orders than that of the corresponding filler-free parent GPE. Meanwhile, the tensile strength and Young's modulus increase by 2.39 and 2.41 times, respectively, with an improvement in glass-transition temperature (Tg) about 10°C. The excellent comprehensive properties make the PMMA-based GPE filled with OMS-g-PMMA as potential candidate for electrochemical devices.
Highlights
Polymer electrolytes with excellent comprehensive properties have been attracting considerable attention in recent years with increasing demands for safe, lightweight lithium ion batteries, and various electrochemical devices of high performance
The structure of the synthesized ordered mesoporous silica (OMS)-g-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), High-resolution transmittance electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Smallangle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD) analysis, respectively
The core-shell PMMA-grafted OMS hybrid particle has been successfully synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of MMA
Summary
Polymer electrolytes with excellent comprehensive properties have been attracting considerable attention in recent years with increasing demands for safe, lightweight lithium ion batteries, and various electrochemical devices of high performance. Some surface groups of inorganic nanosized fillers may provide physical crosslinking centers [16], and can improve, to an extent, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of GPE It is of great importance for NGPE to ensure a homogeneous dispersion of inorganic nanosized fillers in matrix for the above roles depend largely on the particle size and surface status of fillers. The dispersibility of inorganic nanosized fillers in polymer matrix could be improved by surface modification with organic moieties such as coupling agent or polymer, the modified surface status of fillers usually leads to the dissociation of Lewis acid-base complex between the surface of fillers and ionic species, which is unfavorable to the improvement in properties of GPE. The structure of the OMS-g-PMMA was characterized and the role of it in improving comprehensive properties of PMMA-based GPE was assessed
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
