Highly Conducting 3D-Hybrid Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries Based on Siloxane Networks and Cross-Linked Organic Polar Interphases

• Published in: Chemistry of materials 2014-11, Vol.26 (22), p.6339-6350
• Main Authors: Boaretto, Nicola, Bittner, Andreas, Brinkmann, Christine, Olsowski, Birke-Elisabeth, Schulz, Jochen, Seyfried, Mona, Vezzù, Keti, Popall, Michael, Di Noto, Vito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0897-4756; 1520-5002
• DOI: 10.1021/cm5024647

The development of polymer electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, high lithium transference number, and high electrochemical stability is one of the main aims in the field of lithium battery research. In this work, we describe the synthesis and the characterization of new electrolyte systems, composed of three-dimensional hybrid inorganic–organic networks doped with LiClO4. The preparation route comprises only three steps, namely a sol–gel reaction, salt dissolution, and an epoxide polymerization reaction. The lithium concentration, and thus the lithium transference number, was modulated by adding lithium hydroxide in the sol–gel step. In this way, seven electrolytes with varying salt concentrations were prepared. The hybrid electrolytes are characterized by good ionic conductivities (up to 8·10–5 S/cm at room temperature) and high thermo-mechanical and electrochemical stabilities. Stability tests versus lithium metal via galvanostatic polarization showed that this material is superior with respect to reference poly­(ethylene oxide) based electrolytes.