Polymer Electrolytes For Applications Research Articles

Influence of hybrid filler on charge conduction and storage performance of polyvinyl chloride/nitrocellulose blend for hybrid electrolyte application

AbstractPolymer blends of polyvinyl chloride/nitrocellulose/MoS2‐Nafion (PVC/NC/MoS2‐Nafion) were prepared using a casting technique. FTIR analysis revealed chemical interactions between the polymer matrix and filler. XRD analysis was employed to investigate changes in structural phases, while SEM illustrated the agglomerated morphology of the modified blends. The critical role of ionic interaction between Nafion and polymer system in enhancing electrical properties was confirmed through impedance analysis. The introduction of oxygenated functionalities improved surface topography and roughness, as observed by AFM. Electrical conductivity increased from 10−6 S/cm to 10−4 S/cm, accompanied by a decrease in activation energy (Ea). The addition of Nafion decreased bulk resistance, indicating enhanced ionic mobility, as supported by impedance analysis. TG‐DSC analysis demonstrated that MoS2 and Nafion improved thermal properties of polymer blends. The glass transition temperature (Tg) increased by approximately 13 °C and 21 °C with MoS2 and Nafion, respectively. Universal testing machine (UTM) results indicated moderate tensile strength and Young's modulus achieved by MoS2 and Nafion. With increasing Nafion loading, elongation at break rose to around 71 %, showcasing excellent interfacial interaction in polymer‐filler system. The resulting polymer blends, modified by Nafion, exhibited high ionic/electrical conductivity and show promise for hybrid polymer electrolyte applications.

Molecular Design for In‐Situ Polymerized Solid Polymer Electrolytes Enabling Stable Cycling of Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractThe practical application of polymer electrolytes is hindered due to the low ionic conductivity and the interfacial instability between the electrodes. Herein, a strategy for designing solid polymer electrolytes is developed that facilitates the rapid lithium‐ion migration through weak coordination with polymer chain segments, as well as the fast ion channel transport of oligomers. Moreover, the in situ‐produced solid polymer electrolyte (PFVS) can form stable LiF‐rich interfaces with both the lithium metal anode and different cathodes. When the PFVS is applied in Li‐metal batteries, excellent properties are achieved at room temperature. A Li||Li symmetric cell can be stably cycled for 4000 h at a current density of 0.1 mA cm−1, a Li||LiFePO4 full cell can maintain capacity retention as high as still 94.4% after 600 cycles at 1 C, and a Li||NCM811 full cell can retain 80% capacity after 180 cycles at 1 C. A 2.6 Ah Graphite|PFVS|NCM90 pouch cell is made for demonstrating the practical application potential, and it can be also stably cycled. The developed strategy provides a promising path for designing solid polymer electrolytes that can effectively extend the lifespan of Li metal batteries.

Applications of Polymer Electrolytes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Review.

Polymer electrolytes, a type of electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries, combine polymers and ionic salts. Their integration into lithium-ion batteries has resulted in significant advancements in battery technology, including improved safety, increased capacity, and longer cycle life. This review summarizes the mechanisms governing ion transport mechanism, fundamental characteristics, and preparation methods of different types of polymer electrolytes, including solid polymer electrolytes and gel polymer electrolytes. Furthermore, this work explores recent advancements in non-aqueous Li-based battery systems, where polymer electrolytes lead to inherent performance improvements. These battery systems encompass Li-ion polymer batteries, Li-ion solid-state batteries, Li-air batteries, Li-metal batteries, and Li-sulfur batteries. Notably, the advantages of polymer electrolytes extend beyond enhancing safety. This review also highlights the remaining challenges and provides future perspectives, aiming to propose strategies for developing novel polymer electrolytes for high-performance Li-based batteries.

Recent progress in poly(ethylene oxide)‐based solid‐state electrolytes for lithium‐ion batteries

AbstractIn this review, we discuss the latest research trends related to poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐based solid‐state polymer electrolytes for application in lithium‐ion batteries. First, the characteristics of PEO‐based polymer electrolytes, highlighted as the next‐generation electrolytes for batteries, are briefly introduced. Next, based on the findings reported in the recent literature, strategies to address their inherent challenges, such as low‐ionic conductivity at room temperature, concentration polarization, and poor mechanical properties, are covered. Finally, their remaining challenges and future prospects are outlined.

Cellulose-g-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) Hydrogels: Synthesis, Characterization, Antibacterial Testing and Polymer Electrolyte Application.

Hydrogels have been investigated due to their unique properties. These include high water content and biocompatibility. Here, hydrogels with different ratios of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) were grafted onto cellulose (Cel-g-PDMAEMA) by the free radical polymerization method and gamma-ray radiation was applied in order to increase crosslinking and content of PDMAEMA. Gamma irradiation enabled an increase of PDMAEMA content in hydrogels in case of higher ratio of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate in the initial reaction mixture. The swelling of synthesized hydrogels was monitored in dependence of pH (3, 5.5 and 10) during up to 60 days. The swelling increased from 270% to 900%. Testing of antimicrobial activity of selected hydrogel films showed weak inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis. The results obtained by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) indicate that chemically synthesized hydrogels have good characteristics for the supercapacitor application.

Additive Manufacturing Polyurethane Acrylate via Stereolithography for 3D Structure Polymer Electrolyte Application.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D-printing technology, is currently integrated in many fields as it possesses an attractive fabrication process. In this work, we deployed the 3D-print stereolithography (SLA) method to print polyurethane acrylate (PUA)-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). The printed PUA GPE was then characterized through several techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The printed GPE exhibited high ionic conductivity of 1.24 × 10−3 S cm−1 at low-lithium-salt content (10 wt.%) in ambient temperature and favorable thermal stability to about 300 °C. The FTIR results show that addition of LiClO4 to the polymer matrix caused a shift in carbonyl, ester and amide functional groups. In addition, FTIR deconvolution peaks of LiClO4 show 10 wt.% has the highest amount of free ions, in line with the highest conductivity achieved. Finally, the PUA GPE was printed into 3D complex structure to show SLA flexibility in designing an electrolyte, which could be a potential application in advanced battery fabrication.

Effects of Isocyanate-to-Polyols (NCO/OH) Ratio on Bio-based Polyurethane Film from Palm Kernel Oil based Monoester Polyols (PKO-p) for Polymer Electrolytes Application

This study investigated the synthesis of bio-based polyurethane (PU) film from palm kernel oil-based polyols (PKO-p) at four different isocyanate-to-polyols (NCO/OH) ratios comprising 100/100, 100/150, 100/200, and 100/250. The PU film was prepared by mixing 2,4-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and PKO-p in acetone using the pre-polymerization technique under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature. The effect of the NCO/OH ratio on the properties of the PU films was analyzed through infra-red spectroscopy, molecular weight distribution, thermal behavior, and impedance spectroscopy. According to the infra-red spectroscopic analysis, the formation of urethane linkages (–NHCOO–) after the polymerization was indicated through the disappearance of isocyanate (N=C=O) peak and the appearances of secondary amine, carbonyl, carbamate, ether, and ester groups in the PU chain. In addition, the Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) showed that the weight of average molecular weight (MW) increased with increasing NCO/OH ratio up to 1.23 × 106 g mol-1. Nevertheless, higher content of PKO-p resulted in a low crosslink PU (4 % crosslink) and poor physical properties such as soft, sticky, and easy to tear due to the non-hydrogen bonded urethane. Moreover, the glass-transition temperature (Tg) reduced from 67 °C to 30 °C with the increase in PKO-p content. Despite all samples experienced the same thermal stability at 187 °C, a significant difference was observed in the mass loss of NCO/OH ratios. The highest thermal degradation was found at (100/200) NCO/OH ratio with Tmax = 444 °C. Furthermore, the piezoelectricity characteristic of pristine PU recorded the bulk resistant of up to ~107 – 105 Ω which reduced further after the presence of lithium iodide (LiI) salts as the charge carrier with the calculated ionic conductivity around 10-5 S cm-1. Thus, this study demonstrated the promising physicochemical properties of PU film from PKO-p for polymer electrolyte application.

Self‐Healing Polymer Electrolyte for Dendrite‐Free Li Metal Batteries with Ultra‐High‐Voltage Ni‐Rich Layered Cathodes

Practical applications of polymer electrolytes in lithium (Li) metal batteries with high-voltage Ni-rich cathodes have been hindered by the dendrite growth and poor oxidative stability of electrolytes. Herein, a self-healing polymer electrolyte is developed by in situ copolymerization of 2-(3-(6-methyl4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-yl)ureido)ethyl methacrylate (UPyMA) and ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (EGMEA) monomers. With the electrolyte, the dendrite growth is inhibited by spontaneously repairing dendrite-induced defects, cracks, and voids at the Li/electrolyte interface; the suppressed dendrite growth and associated electro-chemo behaviors are visualized by the kinetic Mont-Carlo simulation. Benefitting from the high ionic conductivity, wide electrochemical window and good interfacial stability, the self-healing polymer electrolyte enables stable cycling of the LiNi0.8 Mn0.1 Co0.1 O2 (NMC811) cathode under 4.7V, achieving a high specific capacity of ≈228.8mAh g-1 and capacity retention of 80.4% over 500 cycles. The new electrolyte is very promising for developing highly safe and dendrite-free Li metal batteries with high energy density.

Functional Applications of Polymer Electrolytes in High‐Energy‐Density Lithium Batteries

AbstractPolymer electrolytes have attracted great interest in advanced lithium batteries. Recently, it has been found that there are many functional applications of polymer electrolytes in lithium batteries, which are very important for the development of high‐energy‐density lithium batteries. In this review, the functional applications of polymer electrolytes are reviewed in terms of protecting lithium metal anode, coating for high‐voltage cathodes, and improving the safety of batteries. Finally, the remaining challenges and future perspectives of polymer electrolytes in these functional applications are presented. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of polymer electrolytes and promotes their functional application in high‐energy‐density lithium batteries.

Crosslinked xylose-based polyester as a bio-derived and degradable solid polymer electrolyte for Li+-ion conduction

A bio-derived polyester has been crosslinked into flexible films for solid polymer electrolyte applications in Li+-ion batteries, with ionic conductivity around 10−5S cm−1at 60 °C, high Li+transference number (0.84), and hydrolytic degradability.

Developing Polymer Electrolytes with Balanced Thermomechanical and Conductive Properties through Incorporation of High Aromatic Content

Thermomechanical and electrochemical properties of thiol-ene polymers with high aromatic content afforded by lignocellulosic biomass were evaluated to explore feasibility and advantages in polymer electrolyte applications. Polymer electrolytes have the potential to mitigate stability and safety concerns accompanying incumbent liquid electrolyte systems in lithium-ion batteries. The thermal properties associated with low glass transition temperature (T g) polymers are thought to improve contact with electrodes and ionic flow through the membranes compared to other liquid electrolyte alternatives such as solid electrolytes. Additionally, the high aromatic content of the lignin macromolecule can impart mechanical and thermal stability, making it attractive for use in applications that require robust polymers.Low molecular weight fractions of wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin were functionalized and prepared through thiol-ene polymerization into polymer electrolytes. In combination with previous work, it was determined that differing solubility, functionality, and aromatic content of lignin fractions vary the glass transition temperatures of the resulting polymers and the suitability for electrolyte applications. The wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin utilized in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) displayed room temperature conductivity values in the range of 5 – 7 x 10-5 S cm-1. The lignin-based SPEs exhibited excellent cationic transport with ion transference values up to 0.90. Voltage stability and compatibility with electrode materials were also explored. The promising conductivity and ion transference results reveal the potential for use of functionalized, low molecular weight wheat straw/Sarkanda grass soda lignin in SPE applications as a way to improve thermal stability, electrochemical performance, and incorporate an abundant, sustainable resource in a high performance application.

A Perspective on the Design of Ion-Containing Polymers for Polymer Electrolyte Applications.

Ion-containing polymers have numerous potential applications as energy storage and conversion devices, water purification membranes, and gas separation membranes, to name a few. Given the low dielectric constant of the media, ions and charges on polymers in a molten state interact strongly producing large effects on chain statistics, thermodynamics, and diffusion properties. Here, we discuss recent research accomplishments on the effects of ionic correlation and dielectric heterogeneity on the phase behavior of ion-containing polymers. Progress made in studying ion transport properties in these material systems is also highlighted. Charged block copolymers (BCPs), among all kinds of ion-containing polymers, have a particular advantage owing to their robust mechanical support and ion conducting paths provided by the segregation of the neutral and charged blocks. Coulombic interactions among the charges play a critical role in determining the phase segregation in charged BCPs and the domain size of charge-rich regions. We show that strongly charged BCPs display ordered phases as a result of electrostatic interactions alone. In addition, bulky charge-containing side groups attached to the charged block lead to the formation of morphologies that provide continuous channels and better dissociation for ion conduction purposes. Finally, a few avenues for designing ion-containing polymers for energy applications are discussed.

A wide-temperature superior ionic conductive polymer electrolyte for lithium metal battery

Abstract Polymer electrolytes are one of promising candidates that can meet the demands of high safety and stability of high-energy lithium metal batteries. However, the practical applications of polymer electrolytes are usually limited by the low ionic conductivity, narrow electrochemical window and highly interfacial resistance. Here we designed a poly(vinyl ethylene carbonate) polymer electrolyte for polymer lithium metal battery by in-situ polymerization method. The new polymer electrolyte provides superior ionic conductivity with 2.1 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 25 °C, wide electrochemical window up to 4.5 V (vs. Li+/Li) and excellent interfacial compatibility to electrodes. The ions transports are mainly achieved from the coupling/decoupling between Li ions and oxygen atoms in C O groups, partially from the coupling/decoupling between Li+ and oxygen atoms in C–O groups, and probably moving/exchange of Li+ between C O and C–O groups in the process of segmental motions in high and low molecular polymers of polymer electrolyte. The lithium metal batteries with LiFePO4 cathode can deliver a high discharge capacity of ~165 mA h g−1 at 25 °C, and even ~104 mA h g−1 at −15 °C with current density of 0.1C. Therefore, the novel polymer electrolyte designed in this study is a promising candidate for high performances polymer lithium metal batteries.

Composite polymer electrolytes reinforced by two-dimensional layer-double-hydroxide nanosheets for dendrite-free lithium batteries

Applications of polymer electrolytes in lithium batteries are lagged by the low ionic conductivity and lithium-ion transference number, and polymer electrolytes are mechanically weak to suppress lithium dendrites. Herein, two-dimensional layer-double-hydroxide (2D LDH) nanosheets are introduced into polyethylene oxide (PEO) as fillers for the first time. After blending with 2D LDH fillers, the composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) exhibits an optimized conductivity with a lithium-ion transference number of 0.42. Additionally, the mechanical strength and electrochemical stability of the CPE at high voltages are improved. More importantly, the CPE shows a markedly enhanced stability against dendritic lithium, and the current density for dendrite-free Li plating/stripping in the CPE arises to 800 μA cm−2 at 60 °C. Solid-state lithium batteries based on the PEO/LDH CPEs show an initial discharge capacity of ~138 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 88% after 100 cycles at 0.2 C and 60 °C.

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate-based gel polymer electrolyte for application in electrochemical double-layer capacitors

Electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) have received an enormous attraction for energy storage applications due to their unique features to meet the high demand of energy in the world. At present, there is a substantial interest on cheap and safe energy storage devices, and hence, the present investigation was carried out to fabricate an EDLC using natural graphite electrodes and an ionic liquid (IL)-based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). Electrolyte was prepared using the IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (1E3MITF) with the polymer poly(vinylidenefluoride)-co-hexafluoropropylene and the salt zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate (ZnTF). The electrochemical properties of the EDLC were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) test. It was found from the CV test that the EDLC exhibits a single-electrode specific capacitance of 7.95 Fg−1. With the GCD results, a discharge capacitance of 1.01 Fg−1 was obtained. In addition, a good cyclic stability was observed. The EDLC with this novel IL-based GPE can be used for the energy applications with further enhancements.

(Invited) Computational Screening of Single Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes Based on sp3 Boron-Poly (ethylene glycol)

The application of polymer electrolytes in Lithium Ion batteries (LIB), has been proposed as an effective method to alleviate the problems associated to the limited voltage window and safety issues associated to the traditional liquid organic electrolytes. However, polymer electrolytes studied so far based on poly (ethylene glycol) and its derivatives have been unable to reach the required Li+ ionic conductivity needed for a broader application for commercial devices. Common polymer electrolytes contain a polymer with specific chain length at a defined C:O ratio, the conducting salt is added either during the polymerization process or afterwards by a dissolution process; however, the salt is often not completely dissociated while the conduction mechanism has been described as hoping of Li+ (often Li+ and counter ions) between oxygen functional groups and between chains induced by its intrinsic mobility. In order to increase the polymer ionic conductivity, it has been recently proposed the modification of the polymer for the introduction of negatively charge moieties which allows the direct interaction of Li+ with the polymer having no free counter ions; these structures present two big advantages, the Li+ transport number is close to unity and the mobility of Li is not lowered by the presence of the counter Ion. In order to identify the possible modifications to the polymer which allows higher Li conductivity, a detailed study of sp3-Boron Poly (ethylene-glycol) is reported. In this work, by means of density functional theory simulations, different electron withdrawing/donating ligands have been included as modifiers of the Boron site electron density. It was found that the effect of the ligand on the electron density of the Boron site has a great influence on the Bader charge of the boron site and also in the interaction energy with Lithium Ions was. A further study by ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) shows that the mobility of Lithium ion can be modified up to two-fold by the inclusion of withdrawing electron density ligands. This methodology might lead to the discovery of new polymer electrolytes with enhanced Li+ conductivity.

Supramolecular Self-Assembly of Methylated Rotaxanes for Solid Polymer Electrolyte Application.

Li+-conducting solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) obtained from supramolecular self-assembly of trimethylated cyclodextrin (TMCD), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and lithium salt are investigated for application in lithium-metal batteries (LMBs) and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The considered electrolytes comprise nanochannels for fast lithium-ion transport formed by CD threaded on PEO chains. It is demonstrated that tailored modification of CD beneficially influences the structure and transport properties of solid polymer electrolytes, thereby enabling their application in LMBs. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and experimental data reveal that modification of CDs shifts the steady state between lithium ions inside and outside the channels, in this way improving the achievable ionic conductivity. Notably, the designed SPEs facilitated galvanostatic cycling in LMBs at fast charging and discharging rates for more than 200 cycles and high Coulombic efficiency.

Development of pma/pvac-tpai-bmii solid polymer electrolytes for application in dye sensitized solar cell

Electrolyte film of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) with composition of 90:10 and 20 wt.% of tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (TPAI) at different of 1-butyl-3- methyl imidazoliumiodide (BMII) concentration were prepared by solution casting technique. Highest conductivities achieve at 5wt.% of BMII is 1.2 x 10-11 S cm-1. Effects of temperature of this sample on the dielectric properties was studied by impedance spectroscopy. The dielectric constant, εr and dielectric loss, εi increased with increasing temperature. Charge carrier relaxation time was extracted from the electrical modulus spectra. It was found that the relaxation time decreased with temperature. The ac conductivity was observed to obey the Jonscher’s Universal Power Law. The correlated barrier hopping model (CBH) was used to interpret the conduction mechanism of the present electrolyte system. Electrolyte films were sandwiched between titanium dioxide photoanode and platinum counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembly. The solar cell with 5wt.% showed highest efficiency of 4.62% with maximum short circuit current density(Jsc) of 10.04 mAcm-2, open circuit voltage (Voc) 0.70 V and fill factor, ff of 66.04%.

(Invited) Development of Dual-Salts/Carbonate-Solvents Electrolytes for Fast Charging and Stable Cycling Lithium Metal Batteries

Rechargeable lithium (Li) metal batteries have received increasing attentions in recent years because of their high theoretical energy densities from the contribution of Li metal anode that has an ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity (3860 mAh g-1), the lowest redox potential (-3.040 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode) and a low gravimetric density (0.534 g cm-3). However, significant challenges including Li dendrite growth and low Coulombic efficiency still impede the successful deployment of rechargeable Li metal batteries. A lot of efforts have been made in the past 45 years to address these problems, including the application of polymer electrolytes, solid-state electrolytes, ionic liquids, highly concentrated liquid electrolytes, additives, protecting layers, interlayers between Li and separator, nanoscale design, selective deposition, Li-reduced graphene oxide composites, and so on. Although some progresses have been achieved the challenges still remain. It has been reported that ether-based electrolytes are relatively stable with Li metal anode and can allow Li metal anodes to be cycled at reasonably high charging current densities, but these electrolytes are not stable at voltages above 4 V vs. Li/Li+. The conventional Li-ion battery electrolytes based on LiPF6/carbonate-solvents are stable at least up to 4.3 V but they suffer from the low Coulombic efficiency and poor charging current densities due to the reactivity of Li metal with LiPF6 salt and carbonate solvents. In the talk, we present the development of electrolytes based on LiTFSI-LiBOB dual-salt in carbonate solvent mixtures for rechargeable Li metal batteries with conventional Li-ion battery cathodes. It has been found that the dual-salt electrolytes greatly enhance the performances of Li metal batteries in terms of long-term cycling stability and fast charging capability over the conventional LiPF6/carbonate electrolytes. The dual-salt electrolytes also protect Li metal anodes by suppressing the corrosions of Li metal caused by the reactions of Li metal and electrolytes. Certain additives at a small amount level can even further significantly protect the Li metal anode and improve the battery performances. The possible mechanisms have been proposed based on the comprehensive characterizations. The details of the results will be reported at the meeting. Acknowledgements The research has been supported by the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Vehicle Technologies of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Advanced Battery Materials Research (BMR) Program and the Battery500 Consortium. The microscopy and spectroscopy measurements were performed at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Poly(urethane acrylate)‐based gel polymer films for mechanically stable, transparent, and highly conductive polymer electrolyte applications

ABSTRACTPolymer electrolytes are attractive for the applications in conventional electrochemical devices and emerging flexible devices. In this study, we developed a poly(urethane acrylate)‐based gel polymer electrolyte with excellent mechanical stability, optical transparency, and a high ionic conductivity. These polymer electrolytes showed excellent dimensional stability and an elastomer‐like behavior with a Shore A hardness in the range of 20–40. The optical transmittance values of these polymers films were over 80% in the visible range. Their ionic conductivities were controlled via changes in the concentration of the linker, dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), and the lithium salt incorporated into the polymer. The maximum ionic conductivity reached 3.7 mS/cm at room temperature (∼23 °C) when the DMPA/poly(ethylene glycol) molar ratio was 0.25, and the ionic conductivity was found to be proportional to the salt concentration. We believe that these polymer electrolytes will be useful in various electrochemical applications where flexibility, high ionic conductivity, and transparency in the electrolytes are necessary. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45009.