Ethoxylated Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate Research Articles

Extraordinarily fast response all-solid-state electrochromic devices

Gel polymer electrolytes have been acknowledged as a promising candidate within the realm of electrochromic devices (ECDs) for addressing the safety concerns of liquid electrolytes and overcoming the poor ionic conductivity inherent in solid electrolytes. Herein, a novel strategy for the simple fabrication of in-situ UV-curable gel polymer electrolytes has been proposed to enhance ionic conductivity and promote interface interactions, thereby facilitating remarkably fast response times. After rapid photopolymerization, the electrolyte containing 10 wt% trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate exhibits the highest ionic conductivity (1.42 mS cm−1), which is raised to a value of 1.79 mS cm−1 by the incorporation of alumina inorganic nanoparticles. Additionally, the polymer electrolyte demonstrates high optical transmittance, relatively notable interface adhesive strength (26 KPa), and outstanding thermal stability, with only a 5 % weight loss observed up to 126 °C. These distinctive characteristics enable the fabrication of all-solid-state WO3-NiO ECDs characterized by large optical modulation (50.82 %), super-short switching times (0.8 s for bleaching and 4.0 s for coloration), and exceptional cycling stability (95.7 % after 10,000 cycles, and 77.4 % after 15,000 cycles). This article effectively explores a straightforward method for fabricating high-performance all-solid-state ECDs, simplifying the process flow and enhancing the application prospects for ECDs.

Advancing photopolymerization and 3D printing: High-Performance NiII complexes bearing N2O2 Schiff-base ligands as photocatalysts

New high-performance photocatalysts based on metal structures are being developed for polymerization. However, using low-cost metals while ensuring effectiveness is challenging. In this study, two NiII complexes NiL1 and NiL2 were synthesized using N2O2 Schiff-base ligands bearing π-extended rings (naphthaldehyde (H2L1) and phenylsalicylaldehyde (H2L2) groups), respectively. These complexes were characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. NiL1 and NiL2 were evaluated in photoinitiating system as new photocatalysts for the Free Radical Photopolymerization of Ethoxylated (3) Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate (TMPETA) for violet and green light. Three-component systems were employed in the presence of Di-tert-butyl-diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Iod) and ethyl dimethylaminobenzoate (EDB). The absorption, luminescence, and redox properties of nickel complexes and ligands were explored and compared for a better understanding of their structure/reactivity relationship. The designed nickel complexes showed good photoinitiation abilities. NiL2 exhibited the highest monomer conversion, and it was investigated in the on–off process under green light irradiation, demonstrating the efficiency of the system in reactivating the polymerization process. An oxidative pathway mechanism was proposed based on free energy, steady state photolysis and electron spin resonance spin trapping experiments. The best system was successfully applied in cationic photopolymerization and 3D printing.

Ternary stabilization strategies for succinonitrile-based in situ polymerized electrolyte enabling high-performance solid lithium metal batteries

Solid-state lithium metal batteries with high energy density and safety have gained increasing attention due to their potential applications. However, the practical use of solid electrolytes is hindered by several challenges. These include poor compatibility at the electrode–electrolyte interface, low ionic conductivity at room temperature, and fast capacity degradation. To address these issues, here we propose ternary strategies by in-situ cross-linked plastic crystal electrolyte (in-situ PCE) based on succinonitrile (SN). Through the in-situ polymerization of SN with polyacrylonitrile/poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PAN/PVDF) nanofibers separator, excellent mechanical strength and compatibility at the electrode–electrolyte interface are achieved. The cross-linked structure of thermally polymerized ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) immobilizes the SN molecule, preventing its contact with the lithium metal and inhibiting irreversible side reactions. Additionally, a LiF-rich passivation layer is employed to further protect the SN at the electrolyte-lithium metal interface. The dual protection from ETPTA and LiF offers excellent stability to lithium. Hence, the in-situ PCE exhibits high ionic conductivity (0.79 mS cm−1 at 30 °C) and wide electrochemical window (4.56 V, vs Li+/Li). The cells exhibit excellent cycling stability and high-rate performance. LiFePO4//Li cells retain 96.6 % capacity after 1000 cycles at 10C rate. This study provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance solid-state electrolytes.

Deep Eutectic Solvent‐Based Solid Polymer Electrolytes for High‐Voltage and High‐Safety Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractSolid‐state electrolytes (SSE) exhibit great promise in enhancing the safety of Li metal batteries by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes. However, the practical application of SSE is hampered mainly due to the poor electrode–electrolyte interface, low ion conductivity, and inferior electrochemical stability. Herein, superior nonflammable solid polymer electrolytes are elaborately designed by in situ encapsulating succinonitrile (SN)‐based deep eutectic solvent (DES) into the ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) matrix (DES‐ETPTA). Benefiting from strong polarity and high anti‐oxidation capability, as‐prepared DES‐ETPTA electrolyte shows high ionic conductivity (9.55 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C), high Li+ transference number (0.68), and good electrochemical stability. As a result, the assembled LiFePO4 || Li full cells based on the designed DES‐ETPTA electrolyte deliver a high reversible capacity and capacity retention at −10 °C and room temperature. Furthermore, considering the compatibility with high‐voltage layered oxide cathode, the electrochemical stability of the ETPTA is further improved through the decoration of cyanoacrylate (CA) with strong electron‐withdrawing characteristic of C≡N. Consequently, the constructed 4.5 V LiCoO2 || Li full cells using DES‐ETPTA‐CA electrolyte deliver a high reversible capacity of 144 mAh g−1 and a superior retention rate of 93% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C. This work paves a new pathway to design high‐safety and high‐voltage solid polymer electrolytes for lithium metal batteries.

Rational design of a double-layer Janus solid electrolyte for high voltage lithium metal battery

Interfacial side reaction is a major problem faced by solid state electrolyte (SSE), especially the oxidation reaction between high-voltage cathode materials and SSE. Herein, a double-layer PVCA-ETPTA|LAGP-PPC Janus solid electrolyte (JSE) with ultra-high interfacial stability is successfully designed. An oxidation tolerant cross-linked poly (Vinylene Carbonate) (PVCA)-Ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) electrolyte is used on the cathode side, resulting in a stable interfacial layer under high-voltage. To enhance the stability of SSE|Li interface, a protective Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5P3O12 (LAGP)-Poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC) layer is adhered to Li metal. The obtained dual-layer structure shows great thermal stability with an electrochemical stable window of 0–4.5 V. Moreover, the PVCA-ETPTA layer fabricated by in-situ polymerization helps building an integrated structure, which can significantly reduce the interfacial resistance. The ionic conductivity of LP|PE can reach 1.2 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 55 °C. As a consequence, the assembled NCM622|LP|PE|Li solid state cell shows exceptional electrochemical performance, with 70 % cycle retention for 100 cycles at 0.2 C.

Chiral Janus emulsions with gold nanocomposite for enantioselective catalysis

Chiral emulsions, with the chiral center of chiral-surfactant as the emulsifier, provide opportunities for selective catalysis and inorganic material synthesis. Janus emulsion draws researcher’s attention due to excellent multiple chambers, advanced structures and diverse interfaces. Chiral Janus emulsions are prepared with two immiscible oils of vegetable oil (VO)/dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and 2-(Perfluorooctyl)ethyl methacrylate (PFOEMA)/Ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) as inner phases, by emulsified by chiral-surfactant [H-G-C16]FeCl4, in batch-scale by traditional vortex mixing. AuNPs as functional nanomaterials with peroxidase activity are then applied as active centers, adsorbing at the oil/water interface due to the electrostatic interactions between the positive charge of [H-G-C16]FeCl4 at Janus emulsion interfaces and the negative charge of AuNPs modified by SDS. Chiral Janus emulsion is endowed with catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. Catalytic results show two AuNPs@ Janus emulsions show better affinity to catalyze the oxidation of L-DOPA than D-DOPA. By investigating two AuNPs@ Janus emulsions with different inner phases, chiral Janus emulsion of AuNPs@ETPTA/PFOEMA/[H-G-C16]FeCl4(aq) has better catalytic activity and enantioselectivity than AuNPs@DMP/VO/[H-G-C16]FeCl4 (aq) because of the smaller droplets have larger interface areas could adsorb more [H-G-C16]FeCl4 molecules and AuNPs. The findings open an avenue in the production of chiral Janus emulsions with catalytic effect and enantioselectivity, which would push forward future applications in selective catalysis and inorganic material synthesis.

Weak Electrostatic Force on K+ in Gel Polymer Electrolyte Realizes High Ion Transference Number for Quasi Solid-State Potassium Ion Batteries.

Quasi-solid-state potassium-ion batteries (SSPIBs) are of great potential for commercial use due to the abundant reserves and cost-effectiveness of resources, as well as high safety. Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) with high ionic conductivity and fast interfacial charge transport are necessary for SSPIBs. Here, the weak electrostatic force between K+ and electronegative functional groups in the ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) polymer chains, which can promote fast migration of free K+, is revealed. To further enhance the interfacial reaction kinetics, a multilayered GPE by in situ growth of poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) on ETPTA (PVDF-HFP|ETPTA|PVDF-HFP) is constructed to improve the interface contact and provide sufficient K+ concentration in PVDF-HFP. A high ion transference number (0.92) and a superior ionic conductivity (5.15 × 10-3 S cm-1) are achieved. Consequently, the SSPIBs with both intercalation-type (PB) and conversion-type (PTCDA) cathodes show the best battery performance among all reported SSPIBs of the same cathode. These findings demonstrate that potassium-ion batteries have the potential to surpass Li/Na ion batteries in solid-state systems.

Polymer/ceramic gel electrolyte with in-situ interface forming enhances the performance of lithium metal batteries

With the introduction of solid-state electrolytes, solid-state lithium-metal batteries face enormous challenges of low electrolyte ion conductivity and high electrode electrolyte interface impedance. Here, we adopt a strategy of combining rigidity and flexibility to design a polymer/ceramic composite gel electrolyte films (CSEs) with a fiber like structure and local defect channels for rechargeable lithium metal batteries. The CSEs synthesized in situ on LiFePO4 electrode by ultraviolet (UV) curing method, which combines the high ionic conductivity of Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12 (LLZTO) ceramic particles and the flexibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co -hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) polymer electrolyte. In order to investigate the effect of crosslinker on the performance of electrolytes, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) were used in the preparation process of ultraviolet (UV) curing method. A comparison was made between gel electrolytes using HDDA and ETPTA crosslinkers, electrolytes containing ETPTA exhibited good overall performance in terms of ion conductivity (7.89 × 10−4 S cm−1), Li+ transference number (0.63), glass transition temperature (−26.2 °C), good flexibility, thermal stability. As a result, the assembled LiFePO4||electrolytes containing ETPTA||Li batteries exhibit excellent the first discharge capacity (151.9 mAh g−1 with 0.1C), good rate performance and its capacity retention rate is 93.1 % after 300 cycles. This study provides a new strategy for the rational design and process method of high-performance CSEs for rechargeable solid lithium metal batteries.

Introduction of UV-cured interpenetrating polymer network in PEO-based all-solid-state Li-S battery

Lithium–sulfur (Li-S) battery attracts numerous study due to its high theoretical specific capacity. Unfortunately, the notorious shuttle effect and the safety issue of lithium anode limit the development. The application of solid-state electrolyte is regarded as one of the solutions. Herein, a UV-cured polymer network is introduced in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) to enhance the performance of Li-S battery. Poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) was used as the main crosslinking monomer. The abundant -C-C-O- long chain can provide a fast channel for Li+ transfer. Trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (TMPETA) is used as the crosslinker, which made the linear copolymer formed by single monomer transform into interpenetrating polymer network. Hence, an interpenetrating UV-cured network was synthesized and combined with PEO. This elaborately designed structure enhances the ionic conductivity and the mechanical properties of PEO SPE as well as hinder the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) migration. As a result, the symmetric Li cells with this SPE can stably cycle for >1600 h at the current density of 0.1 mA cm−2. Moreover, the Li-S cells can deliver an initial capacity of 1131 mAh g−1 at 0.1C. It provides a thread to design the polymer network of SPE.

Controllable Monodisperse Amphiphilic Janus Microparticles

A facile microfluidic strategy has been successfully developed in this paper for the controllable fabrication of monodisperse amphiphilic Janus microparticles. The fabrication of such amphiphilic Janus microparticles is simply achieved by online UV curing of monodisperse Janus droplet templates that are prepared from microfluidics together with initial fast phase separation induced by co-solvent diffusion and sequential dewetting triggered by interfacial energy. Benefitting from the superiorities of droplet microfluidics, the morphologies of Janus microparticles can be flexibly and precisely controlled by adjusting the flowrates of fluids and the compositions of dispersed phase. Meanwhile, the functionalization of Janus microparticles can be easily realized by introducing certain elements into the dispersed phase to rationally design the bulbs with diverse advanced functions. We also demonstrate the universality of the proposed strategy through the fabrication of monodisperse Janus microparticles with one bulb consisting of hydrophobic poly(ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate) and another bulb consisting of a hydrophilic hydrogel such as poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide), poly(N-vinylcaprolactam), or polyacrylamide. The thermoresponsive hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase transition property of the poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) bulb enables the Janus microparticles to be used as functional colloidal surfactants for adjusting the stability/instability of oil–water interface. Our strategy provides a versatile and efficient way to fabricate monodisperse amphiphilic Janus microparticles with controlled structures and diverse functions, which show great application potentials in plenty of fields.

Competitive Li+ Coordination in Ionogel Electrolytes for Enhanced Li-Ion Transport Kinetics.

Developing ionogel electrolytes based on ionic liquid instead of volatile liquid in gel polymer electrolytes is regarded to be effective to diminish safety concerns in terms of overheating and fire. Herein, a zwitterion-based copolymer matrix based on the copolymerization of trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA) and 2-methacryloyloxyethylphosphorylcholine (MPC, one typical zwitterion) is developed. It is shown that introducing zwitterions into ionogel electrolytes can effectively optimize local lithium-ion (Li+ ) coordination environment to improve Li+ transport kinetics. The interactions between Li+ and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI- )/MPC lead to the formation of Li+ coordination shell jointly occupied by MPC and TFSI- . Benefiting from the competitive Li+ attraction of TFSI- and MPC, the energy barrier of Li+ desolvation is sharply decreased and thus the room-temperature ionic conductivity can reach a value of 4.4×10-4 S cm-1 . Besides, the coulombic interaction between TFSI- and MPC can greatly decrease the reduction stability of TFSI- , boosting insitu derivation of LiF-enriched solid electrolyte interface layer on lithium metal surface. As expected, the assembled Li||LiFePO4 cells deliver a high reversible discharge capacity of 139 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C and good cycling stability. Besides, the pouch cells exhibit a steady open-circuit voltage and can operate normally under abuse testing (fold, cut), showing its outstanding safety performance.

Self‐Assembled Molecule Doping Enables High‐Efficiency Hole‐Transport‐Layer‐Free Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes

AbstractHole‐transport‐layer‐free (HTL‐free) perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are attracting increasing research attention because of their simplified device structure, fast preparation process, and high cost effectiveness. However, their much lower external quantum efficiency (EQE) as compared with the conventional p‐i‐n type ones has considerably limited their application prospects. Here, a self‐assembled molecule (SAM) doping strategy is proposed by introducing [4‐(3,6‐dimethyl‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl) butyl] phosphonic acid (Me‐4PACz) containing PO functional groups into the perovskite precursor solution and preparing the HTL‐free quasi‐2D perovskite films through the one‐step spin‐coating process. The doped Me‐4PACz molecules can not only accumulate at the ITO/perovskite interface to lower the hole injection barrier, but also extend deep into the perovskite layer to suppress the trap density in perovskite films and regulate the crystallization process for monodispersed phase composition. With the further addition of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate small molecule containing CO groups to passivate the defects synergistically with Me‐4PACz, the EQE of the corresponding device is boosted from 1.5% to 16.7% together with a 3.5‐fold increase in operational stability, which is the highest efficiency reported so far for HTL‐free PeLEDs. The results demonstrate that the SAM doping strategy can be a viable and facile way to prepare high‐performance HTL‐free PeLEDs for practical applications.

2D VOPO4 Pseudocapacitive Ultrafast‐Charging Cathode with Multi‐Electron Chemistry for High‐Energy and High‐Power Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractLithium metal batteries (LMBs) are acknowledged to be one major direction for next‐generation energy storage devices. However, the practical applications of LMBs are certainly limited by the low power density and safety issues owing to the lack of high‐capacity pseudocapacitive cathode materials and solid electrolytes. Herein, the rational synthesis of 2D VOPO4 nanosheets with enriched V4+ defects (VOPO4@G‐Air) enabling ultrafast multi‐electron reactions as a high‐capacity pseudocapacitive cathode is reported. Through V4+ defect engineering, the larger polarizationand inhomogeneous multi‐electron reactions are vastly improved, resulting in remarkably fast kinetics. Benefiting from the ultrathin 2D structure and controllably regulated V4+ defect concentration, a high discharge capacity of 313 mA h g−1at 0.1C is achieved, anda large capacity of 116 mA h g−1 is offered at 50C. Finally, utilizing the as‐synthesized VOPO4@G‐Air and a solid‐state electrolyte based on ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA‐LiClO4‐SSE) , the assembled solid‐state LMBs (Li||ETPTA‐LiClO4‐SSE||VOPO4) show high energy density of 85.4 Wh kg−1 at 114.5 W kg−1 and high power density of 2.3 kW kg−1 at 45.86 Wh kg−1. Further, the pouch cell unveils extraordinary safety and excellent flexibility. This work provides new insights in the construction of ultrafast and high‐capacity pseudocapacitive cathodes with multi‐electron reactions for solid‐state LMBs.

High-performance, printable quasi-solid-state electrolytes toward all 3D direct ink writing of shape-versatile Li-ion batteries

The era of miniaturized and customized electronics requires scalable energy storage devices with versatile shapes. From the perspective of manufacturing, direct ink writing (DIW)-based 3D printing has attracted unprecedented interest, paving the way to demonstrate micro-batteries with design freedom and outstanding performance. Despite demands for all-printed Li-ion batteries with maskless processing, most of the efforts have been dedicated to developing printable active electrodes or building the 3D architecture, remaining challenges in both manufacturing and printable materials toward form-free, all 3D DIW printed Li-ion batteries. Herein, we present all 3D DIW printed, scalable shape versatile Li-ion batteries (ADP-LIBs) with high-performance, printable gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs). The rheological optimization of DIW printable inks for solid-state current collectors, electrodes, electrolytes, and packaging enables us to demonstrate well-defined shape-versatile ADP-LIBs with reliable extrusion. In particular, UV-curable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) monomers provide thixotropic fluid behaviors and a mechanical framework in the quasi-solid-state electrolytes, respectively, which results in high-throughput and mechanically robust printed electrolyte layers. Our ADP-LIBs demonstrate a great deal of promise as a realistic solution for powering the target applications on-demand with aesthetic versatility, free-form factors, and competitive electrochemical performance.

12 µm‐Thick Sintered Garnet Ceramic Skeleton Enabling High‐Energy‐Density Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries

AbstractUltrathin composite solid‐state electrolytes (CSSEs) demonstrate great promise in high‐energy‐density solid‐state batteries due to their ultrathin thickness and good adaptability to lithium metal anodes. However, uncontrolled dendrite growth and performance deterioration caused by the aggregation of inorganic powder restrict the practical application of ultrathin CSSEs. Herein, a flexible, self‐supporting Li6.5La3Zr1.5Ta0.5O12 (LLZO) ceramic skeleton is prepared by the tape‐casting method. Subsequently, a 12 µm‐thick CSSE with a 3D interconnection structure is achieved through in situ UV curing of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) in a ceramic skeleton (CS‐CSSE). This design includes a sintered LLZO ceramic, which can avoid the uneven distribution of the inorganic phase and regulate ion migration. Meanwhile, the cross‐linked ETPTA polymer electrolyte contributes to lower interfacial impedance. In addition, the continuous two‐phase interface can also provide a fast transmission channel for Li+. As a result, CS‐CSSE demonstrates superior Li+ transference number (0.83) and ionic conductivity (1.19 × 10‐3 S cm‐1) at 25 °C. As‐prepared Li|LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2 batteries exhibit high discharge specific capacities of 185.4 mAh g‐1 at 0.1 C and average coulombic efficiency greater than 99%. The pouch cells exhibit high energy densities of 376 Wh Kg‐1 and 1186 Wh L‐1. This work provides new insights into the application of ceramics to high‐energy‐density solid‐state batteries.

Magnetic core-shell microparticles for oil removing with thermal driving regeneration property

Here, we report the construction of magnetic core-shell microparticles for oil removal with thermal driving regeneration property. Water-in-oil-in water (W/O/W) emulsions from microfluidics are used as templates to prepare core-shell microparticles with magnetic holed poly (ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate) (PETPTA) shells each containing a thermal-sensitive poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) core. The microparticles could adsorb oil from water due to the special structure and be collected with a magnetic field. Then, the oil-filled microparticles would be regenerated by thermal stimulus, in which the inner PNIPAM microgels work as thermal-sensitive pistons to force out the adsorbed oil. At the same time, the adsorbed oil would be recycled by distillation. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of the microparticles for oil keeps very stable after 1st cycle. The adsorption and regeneration performances of the microparticles are greatly affected by the size of the holes on the outer PETPTA shells, which could be precisely controlled by regulating the interfacial forces in W/O/W emulsion templates. The optimized core-shell microparticles show excellent oil adsorption and thermal driving regeneration performances nearly without secondary pollution, and would be a reliable green adsorption material for kinds of oil.

High-Performance and Highly Safe Solvate Ionic Liquid-Based Gel Polymer Electrolyte by Rapid UV-Curing for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Utilizing ionic liquids (ILs) with low flammability as the precursor component for a gel polymer electrolyte is a smart strategy out of safety concerns. Solvate ionic liquids (SILs) consist of equimolar lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and tetraglyme, alleviating the main problems of high viscosity and low Li+ conductivity of conventional ILs. In this study, within a very short time of 30 s, a SIL turns immobile using efficient and controllable UV-curing with an ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) network, forming a homogeneous SIL-based gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) with enhanced thermal stability (216 °C), robust mechanical strength (compression modulus: 1.701 MPa), and high ionic conductivity (0.63 mS cm-1 at room temperature). A Li|SGPE|LiFePO4 cell demonstrates high charge/discharge reversibility and cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 99.7% after 750 cycles and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%, owing to its excellent electrochemical compatibility with Li-metal. A close-contact electrode/electrolyte interface is formed by in situ curing of the electrolyte on the electrode surface, which enables the pouch full cell to work stably under the conditions of cutting/bending. In view of the excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical performances of SGPE, it is believed to be a promising gel polymer electrolyte for constructing high-safety lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

An acrylate-based quasi-solid polymer electrolyte incorporating a novel dinitrile poly(ethylene glycol) plasticizer for lithium-ion batteries

The performance of solid polymer electrolytes is characterized by lower ionic conductivity than conventional liquid electrolytes but provides advantages in terms of operational safety. A quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (QSPE) based on a new plasticizer 4,7,10,13-tetraoxahexadecane-1,16-dinitrile (bCN-PEG4) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) incorporated into a polyacrylates matrix was successfully prepared via UV-induced copolymerization. The matrix consists of units of trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and the monoacrylate poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (mPEGa). The QSPE containing 55 wt% bCN-PEG4 exhibits highly uniform morphology, thermal stability > 200 °C, ionic conductivity of 1.8 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C, and 1.3 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 80 °C, coupled with very high electrochemical stability (> 5 V vs. Li/Li+) and a low glass transition temperature (− 55.7 °C). A cycling experiment in a Li/QPSE/Li cell setup demonstrated the compatibility toward lithium metal additionally. The bCN-PEG4 offers an overall satisfying performance as a plasticizer in a poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid polymer electrolyte. The new QSPE is an alternative to dinitrile-based (e.g., succinonitrile) or glycol ether-based (e.g., tetraglyme) plasticizers with application potential in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.Graphical abstract

Towards visual color display with fast electric field response: Highly chromatic and stable colloidal photonic crystal inks

There is an increasing demand towards reflective color display devices with high contrast as well as eye-protection function. To this point, colloidal photonic crystal inks have attracted intensive attentions in terms of their unique abilities to enable vivid color variation upon external stimuli. In this paper, the SiO2-propylene carbonate (PC)-trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA)-based resins e-ink has been developed to construct photonic crystal photomodulation devices, which can realize electrophoresis-driven modification of structural color. Specifically, it is found that the addition of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) plays a key role in improving coloration, ink rheology and electrochromic response time simultaneously for its special optical and electrical properties. This work may be helpful for the design of e-inks aiming at reflective displays.

Shape memory photonic gels enable reversible regulation of photoluminescence: Towards multiple anti-counterfeiting

Rampant counterfeit products have seriously threatened worldwide public security. It is highly desirable yet challenging to develop advanced encryption and anti-counterfeiting strategies. Herein, a fluorophore-doped shape memory photonic gel (SMPG) for high-end multi-mode anti-counterfeiting purposes is developed by synergistically utilizing two collaborative optical signals of structural color and photoluminescence (PL). The SMPG is prepared by polymerizing mixed monomers of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) and trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA) in the presence of self-assembled silica nanoparticles (NPs) array, followed by doping Rhodamine B (RhB) in the polymeric matrix and selectively etching the silica NPs. The regular macroporous structures of RhB-doped SMPG can be destroyed temporarily after drying and restored after solvent triggering, and such a variation is reversible, repeatable, and stable. We show that dry RhB-doped SMPG is highly transparent under natural light and exhibits PL under UV light, while wet RhB-doped SMPG exhibits vivid and angle-dependent structural color under natural light and a depressed PL under UV light because of the inhibition of the appearance of photonic bandgap (PBG). As a proof-of-concept, various shapes of anti-counterfeiting tags can be prepared by laser engraving technology, significantly improving the security of anti-counterfeiting tags and shows great potential in the high-end anti-counterfeiting fields.