Enhanced Transport Properties Research Articles

A Qualitative Study of Defects with Enhanced Transport Properties of Graphene Exfoliated from Gum Arabic by Rapid Sonication Method

Graphene‐like materials are utilized to make electrical devices, thermal sensors, biosensors, and energy storage batteries. Herein, an efficient and cost‐effective approach is demonstrated by modulating the sonication time duration for producing a few layers of graphene using the emulsification qualities of low‐cost and environmentally friendly gum Arabic. By implementing the modified approach, the production time for graphene synthesis is significantly reduced to a short duration as compared to preliminarily reported methodologies. XRD, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopic results of graphene samples are presented in order to study the nature of defects. The flakes are thin enough (20 nm) to seem semitransparent under the FESEM. From the combination of both I2D/IG and FWHM (2D), a predominant formation of 3–7 graphene layers is observed. It is identified that mainly foreign adatom defects are present, with a density of ≈1010 cm−2, which results in an increasing Hall carrier concentration (≈2 × 1023 m−3) and mobility (≈27 800 cm2 Vs−1). Furthermore, graphene has a higher electrical conductivity of ≈550 S cm−1, which is far better than previously reported. This research opens the way for the mass manufacturing of simple, green, and cost‐effective graphene with better quality and physical attributes.

Operando Temperature Dynamic Investigation of Electric Double‐Layer Capacitors Containing Organic Electrolytes

AbstractVariations in temperature play a substantial role in influencing the electrochemical performance of electric double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs). Lower temperatures limit the charge carriers′ transport properties, diminishing overall cell performance, while higher temperatures enhance transport properties and performance at the expense of material decomposition. Thus, investigating the temperature‐dependent behavior of supercapacitors requires numerous time‐consuming experiments while maintaining specific and consistent testing conditions. Therefore, we present a fast screening technique, named operando temperature dynamic measurements, to investigate EDLC performance under varying temperatures and voltages. The swift nature of this technique minimizes cell aging, allowing the evaluation even at harsh conditions. Utilizing temperature dynamic measurements, EDLCs containing six different organic electrolytes have been compared. Incrementally increasing temperature and cell voltage while performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy or galvanostatic charge‐discharge measurements, metrics such as capacitance, energy, power, entropy, and enthalpy were determined. Interestingly, different performance evolutions over the temperature range are observed, allowing the identification of optimal operational conditions for each device.

(Invited) Synthesis and Interfacial Control of Electrode Architectures

Enhancement in electrochemical energy storage resides in tailored nanotextures resulting from making electrode materials with controlled compositions and structures. The complex interplay of solvent and solute structures and dynamics at the charged interface, transport of ions into and out of the pores, solvation/desolvation processes occurring in pores approaching bare-ion dimensions, and formation of interfaces via chemical reactions are all important parameters. Herein, several synthesis methods for both inorganic and polymer electrodes tailored for energy storage will be discussed. The objective of this talk is to demonstrate that nanostructured polymers and oxides derived from our synthesis strategies not only entail a high storage capacity but also, most importantly, can be made to have significantly enhanced electronic & ionic conductivities. These enhanced transport properties in electrode architectures are the key to providing high-rate capabilities for the corresponding energy storage systems.

Micro-Finned Nanocomposite Films for Enhanced Transport Properties: Graphite Nanoplatelet-Filled Linear Low-Density Polyethylene.

Metals are being replaced with high-performance and lightweight polymers, but their low thermal conductivity and poor electrostatic dissipative properties are significant problems. For the protection of sensitive electronic circuitry in automotive and aerospace parts, some device housing materials must provide electrostatic discharge and dissipate heat generated at higher rates as electronic circuits are increasingly miniaturized. Micro-texturing on the film surface can greatly enhance the heat dissipation area and was investigated in this study using low-cost graphite nanoplatelet (GNP)-filled LLDPE films. Micro-finned films (30 vol% GNP) having a 51 ± 10% larger heat-dissipation area were successfully produced using a continuous extrusion process. The through-thickness thermal conductivity of 30 vol% GNP-filled LLDPE was measured at 1.3 W/m·K, which represents a 200% improvement over that of pure LLDPE. For a GNP content of 30 vol%, the surface and volume electrical conductivity of the composite films also increased by 8 orders of magnitude (resistivity down from ≈1015 to 107 Ω·cm) and electrostatic decay time reduced to a below-resolution limit of 0.01 s, at par with military standard requirements. Thus, micro-fin textured GNP-LLDPE offers a unique combination of electrical and thermal transport desired for the protection of electronic encapsulation materials.

Microscopic mechanisms of particle agglomeration to enhance transport properties of nanofluids

Nanofluids are considered to be a new generation of efficient heat transfer fluids because of their superior thermal conductivity. However, nanoparticles are easily agglomerated by van der Waals force, gravity, buoyancy and electrostatic repulsion. The agglomeration of particles is of great significance to the enhancement of heat transfer of nanofluids, but the effect of agglomeration on nanofluids has not been systematically studied, and the mechanism of particle agglomeration on the transport properties of nanofluids is still unclear. Therefore, equilibrium molecular dynamics was used to simulate Cu/water nanofluid, and a nanofluid model containing Cu nanoparticle agglomerates with different sizes was established. Based on the Green-Kubo theorem, the thermal conductivity and viscosity are calculated, and the fractal dimension under different agglomeration morphologies is calculated by Schmidt-Ott relationship. Through comparative analysis, it is found that under the same volume fraction, the thermal conductivity and viscosity increase with the decrease of particle size. At 30 °C, compared with the particle size r of 1.3365 nm, the thermal conductivity and viscosity increased by 20.34 % and 38.39 % respectively when r was 0.7355 nm. And lower fractal dimension will have higher thermal conductivity. In addition, by calculating the radial distribution function, it is found that in the micro-element structure composed of interface layer and agglomerate, the heat conduction efficiency increases rapidly. At the same time, the agglomeration of particles creates large-area “particle-free” liquids with high thermal resistance in the nanofluids, which negatively affects heat transfer enhancement. The research results provide strong theoretical support for promoting the application of nanofluid enhanced heat transfer technology in the engineering field.

Interlayer Doping of Cu on Bilayer Black Phosphorus for Enhanced Charge Transfer and Transport Properties.

Metal doping between black phosphorus (BP) layers has great advantages in modulating electronic properties. Here, the effects of Cu intercalation on charge transfer and carrier dynamics are investigated by theoretical calculations. Relative to the pristine bilayer BP, Cu suppresses the nonradiative electron-hole recombination, reducing the major pathways of energy and current loss. Furthermore, we investigate a novel pn homogeneous junction based on the Cu-doped bilayer BP, which shows enhanced transport properties and Ohmic contact characteristics. This is because doping leads to the transformation of BP from p-type to n-type, charge accumulation on conduction bands allows electrons to be easily transferred to the p-type bilayer BP, and associated electrical properties can be modulated by the doping concentration. This study has fundamental importance for understanding structure-property relationships in metal intercalation, which is an important guidance for integration and interlayer engineering for two-dimensional materials.

Using Digital Rock Physics to Evaluate Novel Percussion Core Quality

This paper details a benchmarking and validation workflow using digital rock physics (DRP) to evaluate the effectiveness of various percussion sidewall core (PSWC) acquisition methods. The workflow consists of obtaining digital rock properties and images of reference material to compare with material obtained from laboratory percussion sidewall acquisition, including novel designs. This workflow allows insight into the acquisition processes and potential sources of damage in the PSWC technique, and potentially other rock sampling techniques, and offers an opportunity to evaluate its appropriateness as a subsurface rock sample acquisition method. Sample cubes from six outcrop sandstone formations of known properties were used in the testing program to cover a wide range of particularly low and medium unconfined compressive strengths (UCS). Multiple control rotary plug samples were cut from each sandstone formation. The sample cubes were then used as the parent material in laboratory testing of various designs of PSWC bullets. The PSWC bullets, including novel designs, were shot in simulated downhole environments. Both control rotary plug samples and PSWC test core samples were imaged with high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) at resolutions between 2 and 11 μm, and digital rock analysis was conducted on all samples. Using pre- and post-test images, the damage could be identified, and petrophysical properties, including porosity and permeability, could be determined and directly compared with DRP results from control samples and available routine core analysis (RCA) results. DRP provides unique insight to evaluate and quantify changes (or lack of changes) to the sample material subjected to the PSWC acquisition. Damage encountered in the test samples includes grain crushing and compaction that degrades storage and transport properties and dilatant zones that locally enhance transport properties. The presence, frequency, and distribution of these zones are dependent on experimental parameters. In all cases, undisturbed rock fabric could be identified in each sample, and intact texture was verified by comparison with reference material. A novel and efficient method for acquiring and evaluating subsurface samples was developed and benchmarked. Lab results indicate this method may be equally applicable to low- and mid-range UCS rocks. This approach enables a cost-effective reservoir characterization strategy. By optimizing PSWC bullet design and coupling this with mature, image-based digital rock technology, this work demonstrated that the samples and results obtained by this method are representative and that the controls on storage and transport properties are well understood.

Inverse Design of Pore Wall Chemistry To Control Solute Transport and Selectivity.

Next-generation membranes for purification and reuse of highly contaminated water require materials with precisely tuned functionality to address key challenges, including the removal of small, charge-neutral solutes. Bioinspired multifunctional membrane surfaces enhance transport properties, but the combinatorically large chemical space is difficult to navigate through trial and error. Here, we demonstrate a computational inverse design approach to efficiently identify promising materials and elucidate design rules. We develop a combined evolutionary optimization, machine learning, and molecular simulation workflow to spatially design chemical functional group patterning in a model nanopore that enhances transport of water relative to solutes. The genetic optimization discovers nonintuitive functionalization strategies that hinder the transport of solutes through the pore, simply by patterning hydrophobic methyl and hydrophilic hydroxyl functional groups. Examining these patterns, we demonstrate that they exploit an unexpected diffusive solute hopping mechanism. This inverse design procedure and the identification of novel molecular mechanisms for pore chemical heterogeneity to impact solute selectivity demonstrate new routes to the design of membrane materials with novel functionalities. More broadly, this work illustrates how chemical design is a powerful strategy to modulate water-mediated surface-solute interactions in complex, soft material systems that are relevant to diverse technologies.

(Invited) Self-Assembly Synthesis and Interfacial Control of Electrode Architectures

Enhancement in electrochemical energy storage resides in tailored nanotextures resulting from making electrode materials with controlled compositions and structures. The complex interplay of solvent and solute structures and dynamics at charged interfaces, the transport of electrolyte ions into and out of pores, solvation/desolvation processes occurring in pores approaching bare-ion dimensions, and formation of interfaces via chemical reactions are all important parameters. Herein, several self-assembly synthesis methods for carbon and oxide composites as electrode materials for energy storage will be discussed. The objective of this talk is to demonstrate that nanostructured carbons and oxides derived from soft-template synthesis not only entail a high storage capacity but also, most importantly, can be made to have a significantly enhanced electronic & ionic conductivities and storage capacities. These enhanced transport properties in electrode architectures are the key to providing a high-rate capability for the corresponding energy storage systems.

Facile Electrodeposition and Aging to Generate 3-Dimensional α-MnO2 Battery Cathodes

Conventional tape casting forms 2-dimensional (2D) electrodes containing active material, conductive additive, and binder with restricted ion access as electrodes increase in thickness. To improve the transport properties, 3D architectures were developed using electrodeposition to ensure contact between the active material with the substrate, and provide enhanced electrolyte access. This paper investigates electrodeposition of cryptomelane (α-MnO2) as a model cathode material to efficiently accommodate (de)lithation and increase areal capacity vs conventional 2D coatings. Electodeposited samples on titantium (Ti) foil substrates were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and show a linear increase of the average oxidation of Mn (3.5–3.8) and active mass loading (1.27–9.9 mg) with deposition and aging times (0–120 min). The initial deposition is amorphous and forms the crystalline material during the elevated temperature aging step. The active material, α-MnO2, was also deposited on C-cloth and these cathodes at deposition times of 3, 6, and 9 min deliver 9, 36, and 69% higher areal capacities, respectively, at 0.2 mA cm−2 compared to conventional 2D electrodes with a mass loading equal to the 3 min sample. These results demonstrate the benefit of α-MnO2 within a porous architecture providing enhanced transport properties.

New streamlined catalytic carriers of enhanced transport properties: Experiments vs CFD

The paper presents the research on the new structured catalytic carriers, called streamlined structures. The innovative structures are composed of short triangular channels, the walls of which are similar to an airfoil profile. The structures were made using additive manufacturing method – selective laser melting (SLM) - in three different lengths. The study includes flow resistance and heat transfer, both realized using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and experimentally. Flow resistance was measured by precise micromanometer over a wide range of gas velocities. During heat transfer experiments, electric current flowing through the metal structures heated them (Joule effect). The experimental results are in acceptable agreement with the CFD taking into account the accuracy of the structures' manufactured. The novel structures display improved heat transfer properties compared to monoliths and satisfactory low pressure drop. The flow patterns modelled using CFD prove that the inlet vortex has completely disappeared and the outlet vortex is significantly reduced compared to classic monolithic structures. The novel structure studied here is a promising prospect for the development of catalytic reactors.

Enhancing the Charging Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries by Reducing SEI and Charge Transfer Resistances.

To enable the mass adoption of electric vehicles, the charging performance of Li-ion batteries needs to be significantly enhanced. The development of electrolytes with enhanced transport properties and faster interfacial reaction is one critical approach to realize fast charging within 10 min. Most current electrolyte studies are focusing on ester-based electrolytes. In this work, an ether-based electrolyte is reported, which shows remarkably better charging performance than commercial carbonate electrolytes and other reported ester-based electrolytes in both half and full cells. Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization shows that the superior charging performance of the reported electrolyte is due to significantly reduced SEI resistance and charge transfer resistance. Cycling tests show remarkable stability in Li||graphite (gr) half cells, suggesting the potential of the electrolytes to enhance battery charging performance. LiFePO4 (LFP)||gr full cells were further tested, and it is found that the resistance of cells builds up during cycling due to gelation of the electrolyte, which limits the cycling performance of full cells. Potential strategies to address this limitation are discussed.

Device-circuit analysis of ultra-thin body In1−x Ga x As on insulator MOS transistor with varying indium mole fraction and channel thickness

In this paper, with the help of a well-calibrated simulation study, we explore the design space of ultra-thin body In1−x Ga x As-on-Insulator MOS transistor. We have studied the effect of Indium content, and channel thickness on carrier mobility, different analog figure of merits such as transconductance, transconductance generation factor, output conductance, and intrinsic gain of UTB III–V on Insulator MOS transistor. Moreover, we have analyzed the RF performance of the device in terms of unity gain cut-off frequency and maximum oscillation frequency. To verify frequency response characteristics and DC transfer characteristics, the circuit implementation of the UTB III–V on Insulator MOS transistor was performed on a cascode amplifier and differential amplifier. Our result shows that while increasing channel thickness and Indium content, the carrier transport property of the device improves. With an increase in channel thickness and Indium content, a significant improvement in carrier mobility is observed. Due to the poor electrostatic integrity, off-state current of the device increases with channel thickness and Indium content. Due to enhanced transport property, drain current, transconductance, unity gain cut-off frequency, and maximum oscillation frequency also improve. The improvement in analog and RF figure of Merits are also reflected in circuit performance.

High-flux corrugated PDMS composite membrane fabricated by using nanofiber substrate

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a benchmarked membrane material for pervaporation, gas separation, and nanofiltration, remaining challenges in achieving high-flux membrane. Herein, we proposed a high-flux PDMS membrane with corrugated morphology realized by simply coating PDMS solution on nanofiber substrate. It was demonstrated that the electrospun nanofiber substrate with highly interconnected and porous structures could generate a corrugated PDMS membrane layer with highly increased surface area and meanwhile remarkably reduce transport resistance of the membrane. By optimizing the pore structure of nanofiber substrate and reducing the membrane thickness to sub-micrometer, the corrugated PDMS membrane exhibited up to one order of magnitude higher permeation flux compared with state-of-the-arts PDMS membranes for pervaporation separation of ethanol/water mixtures. Specifically, using a 5 wt% ethanol/water mixture as feed at 60 °C, a total flux of 8.7 kg m −2 h −1 and a separation factor of 7.2 were obtained. This work provides a facile approach to develop nanostructured membranes with highly enhanced transport properties. ➢ Corrugated membrane surface is created by coating PDMS on nanofiber substrate ➢ Highly porous and interconnected nanofiber substrate reduce transport resistance ➢ Corrugated PDMS/nanofiber membrane show significantly enhanced pervaporation flux

An Integrated Approach to Using Sheep Wool as a Fibrous Material for Enhancing Strength and Transport Properties of Concrete Composites.

An important goal to achieve sustainable development is to use raw materials that are easily recyclable and renewable, locally available, and eco-friendly. Sheep wool, composed of 60% animal protein fibers, 10% fat, 15% moisture, 10% sheep sweat, and 5% contaminants on average, is an easily recyclable, easily renewable, and environmentally friendly source of raw material. In this study, slump testing, compressive and flexural strengths, ultrasonic pulse velocity, sorptivity, and chloride penetration tests were investigated to assess the influence of wool fibers on the strength and transport properties of concrete composites. Ordinary Portland cement was used to make five concrete mixes incorporating conventional wool fibers (WFs) ranging from 0.5 to 2.5% and a length of 70 mm. The wool fibers were modified (MWFs) via a pre-treatment technique, resulting in five different concrete compositions with the same fiber content. The addition of WF and MWF to fresh concrete mixes resulted in a decrease in slump values. The compressive strength of concrete was reduced when wool fibers were added to the mix. The MWF mixes, however, achieved compressive strength values of more than 30 MPa after a 90-day curing period. Furthermore, by including both WF and MWF, the flexural strength was higher than that of plain concrete. In addition, adding fibers with volume fractions of up to 2% reduced the concrete composite’s sorptivity rate and chloride penetration depths for both WF and MWF content mixes. Consequently, biomass waste like sheep wool could be recycled and returned to the field following the circular economy and waste valorization principles.

Alkyl Silica Hybrid Nanowire Assembly in Improved Superhydrophobic Membranes for RO Filtration.

Alkyl silica membranes and wires were synthesized by a sol–gel method, which has the capacity to control the size of the particles or membranes by controlling the reactions. Trimethoxyoctylsilane (C8TMOS) was used as a chemical surfactant; poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as an emulsifier, dissolved in butanol for emulsion; and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as a precursor and a source of silica. An assembly of silica wires was fabricated on glass and cotton substrates by the dip-coating technique. Porous membranes and silica wires were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The contact angles of all of the samples were in the range of 140–154° as measured by ImageJ software, which confirmed the hydrophobic nature of the samples. The contact angle was increased by increasing the amount of the surfactant. Phase changes of silica wires and membranes were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Chemical bonds of the sample were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The band gap of silica nanowires was measured to be 3.8–3.4 eV using the UV–visible spectrum and decreased as compared to that of bulk silica. These silica-based porous membranes with enhanced transport properties can be used in filtration and separation techniques. This fabricated hybrid silica membrane showed ∼96% salt rejection within a permeation flux of 3.04 L/m2 h.

High‐performance blended membranes based on poly(arylene ether sulfone) and sulfonated poly(styrene‐isobutylene‐styrene) for direct methanol fuel cell applications

AbstractIn this study, two series of poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (PAES) with hydrophobic blocks made of 4,4′‐dihydroxyphenyl (BP) and 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) propane (BPA) were synthesized. The copolymers were prepared by a coupling reaction between decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP) end‐capped nonsulfonated block (PAES A or B) and sulfonated block (SPAES B). The reactive behavior of DFBP facilitates the low‐temperature coupling reaction (below 105°C). The final copolymers were blended at distinct weight percent ratios (0, 20, 30, and 40) with poly(styrene‐b‐isobutylene‐b‐styrene) (SIBS) at a sulfonation level of 88% to obtain strong and flexible membranes. Morphological, thermal stability, and conduction properties of the resulting membranes were measured and reported here. Results suggest that phase segregation between hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains occurs below 1 meq. g−1 ion exchange capacity. These membranes have low water absorption and high thermal stability. Incorporating SIBS 88 into the blend added elastomeric behavior enhancing transport properties and additional ionic domains, achieving proton conductivities of 0.21 S cm−1 for BPA‐based membranes at 50°C (40% SIBS 88). The selectivity of the studied membranes surpasses Nafion® 117, making them strong candidates for proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cell applications.

Expanding the Cell Design Space: Modeling the Impact of Electrolyte Convection on the Performance of Intercalation Batteries

Ubiquitous in portable electronics and emergent in transportation and grid applications, lithium (Li)-ion batteries represent the state-of-the-art in energy storage technology due to their energy density, roundtrip efficiency, and cycle life.1,2 While the past decade has seen a steady decline in battery price and concomitant increase in energy density due to a combination of materials development, manufacturing advances, and market scale,3,4 current Li-ion batteries are still unable to meet the often incongruous requirements of emerging applications.5,6 Most current research efforts focus on advancement of new material sets with improved property profiles,7–9 but decidedly fewer efforts contemplate re-engineering the cell format to support the heat and mass transfer conditions necessary for higher-performing energy storage devices. To this end, one potentially promising approach is the convection battery (Figure 1a), in which electrolyte is pumped through the cell to enhance transport properties.10,11 As compared to traditional configurations, this cell format offers improvements in several areas, including (1) electrodes with an increased and controllable ion flux, (2) improved safety and maintenance, (3) simplified manufacturing, and (4) reduced system costs.Here, we combine mathematical modeling, battery simulation, and dimensional analysis to examine the impact of convection on cell performance over a range of operating conditions as well as electrode and electrolyte properties. Qualitatively, we find that electrolyte flow (1) reduces spatial concentration gradients in the electrolyte (Figure 1c), eliciting enhanced accessed capacity for cells experiencing large electrolyte transport resistance (Figure 1b) and (2) serves as an effective mean of thermal regulation, ensuring battery safety and minimizing degradation. Quantitatively, we derive dimensionless groups to describe observed behaviour and provide further insight into critical previously unanswered questions, such as, when convection is needed, how much is needed, and what is the upper bound of enhancement when convection is used. Ultimately, our results suggest that this platform offers opportunities to expand the technology space of existing and emerging intercalation chemistries, enabling new user applications and revivifying materials previously thought unsuitable due to incompatibility with traditional designs. Acknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge funding from the MIT Energy Initiative.

Role of MoTi diffusion barrier in amorphous indium-gallium-zinc-oxide thin-film transistors with a copper source/drain electrode

This paper reports why the Cu/MoTi/In-Ga-Zn-O(IGZO) contact schematic exhibited acceptable electrical properties and stability in an IGZO transistor that is used in a state-of-the-art active-matrix organic-light-emitting-diodes television as the switcher and driver. For a comparative study, different Cu/diffusion barrier(DB)/IGZO contact schemes (DB = Mo, Ti, and MoTi) were applied in IGZO transistors to evaluate the suitability of different diffusion barriers. The IGZO transistor with the Cu/(Mo, Ti)/IGZO contact exhibited improved carrier mobility and a lower gate swing compared to those of the control device with direct Cu/IGZO contact. The role of the Mo DB was to effectively prevent in-diffusion of Cu atoms during thermal annealing, which is responsible for its superior performance. In contrast, the Ti DB was found to be suitable for low-ohmic contact due to its higher oxidation power, leading to enhanced transport properties. a-IGZO thin-film transistors with the Cu/MoTi/IGZO stack showed the best transport properties in terms of the mobility, gate swing, and contact resistance. Our findings are discussed on the basis of the synergic effect of the MoTi alloy system based on various structural and chemical analyses.

Porous Polymer Gel Electrolytes Influence Lithium Transference Number and Cycling in Lithium-Ion Batteries

To improve the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, the development of advanced electrolytes with enhanced transport properties is highly important. Here, we show that by confining the conventional electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in EC-DEC) in a microporous polymer network, the cation transference number increases to 0.79 while maintaining an ionic conductivity on the order of 10−3 S cm−1. By comparison, a non-porous, condensed polymer electrolyte of the same chemistry has a lower transference number and conductivity, of 0.65 and 7.6 × 10−4 S cm−1, respectively. Within Li-metal/LiFePO4 cells, the improved transport properties of the porous polymer electrolyte enable substantial performance enhancements compared to a commercial separator in terms of rate capability, capacity retention, active material utilization, and efficiency. These results highlight the importance of polymer electrolyte structure–performance property relationships and help guide the future engineering of better materials.