Polymerizable Ionic Liquids for Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes

Poly(ionic liquid) Based Composite Electrolytes for Lithium Ion Batteries

Polymerized ionic liquids (PIL) are an interesting substance class, which is discussed to transfer the outstanding properties and tunability of ionic liquids into a solid material. In this study we extend our previous research on ammonium based PIL and discuss the influence of additives and their usability as polymer electrolyte membranes for lithium ion batteries. The polymer electrolyte is thereby used as replacement for the commercially widespread system of a separator that is soaked with liquid electrolyte. The influence of the material composition on the ionic conductivity (via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and the diffusion coefficients (via pulsed-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) were studied and cell tests with adapted membrane materials were performed. High amounts of the additional ionic liquid (IL) MPPyrr-TFSI (1-methyl-1-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) increased the ionic conductivity of the materials up to 1.3·10⁻⁴ S·cm⁻¹ but made the usage of a cross-linker necessary to obtain mechanically stable membranes. The application of liquid electrolyte mixtures with ethylene carbonate (EC) and MPPyrr-TFSI decreased ionic conductivity values down to the 10⁻⁹ S·cm⁻¹ range, but increased ⁷Li diffusion coefficients with increasing amounts of EC up to 1.7·10⁻¹⁰ m²·s⁻¹. Cell tests with two membrane mixtures proofed that it is possible to build electrolyte membranes on basis of the polymerized ionic liquids, but also showed that further research is necessary to ensure stable and efficient cell cycling.

Novel Ionic Conducting Composite Membrane Based on Polymerizable Ionic Liquids

In this work, the design and characterization of new supported ionic liquid membranes, as medium-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes for fuel-cell application, are described. These membranes were elaborated by the impregnation of porous polyimide Matrimid^® with different synthesized protic ionic liquids containing polymerizable vinyl, allyl, or methacrylate groups. The ionic liquid polymerization was optimized in terms of the nature of the used (photo)initiator, its quantity, and reaction duration. The mechanical and thermal properties, as well as the proton conductivities of the supported ionic liquid membranes were analyzed in dynamic and static modes, as a function of the chemical structure of the protic ionic liquid. The obtained membranes were found to be flexible with Young’s modulus and elongation at break values were equal to 1371 MPa and 271%, respectively. Besides, these membranes exhibited high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperatures > 300 °C. In addition, the resulting supported membranes possessed good proton conductivity over a wide temperature range (from 30 to 150 °C). For example, the three-component Matrimid^®/vinylimidazolium/polyvinylimidazolium trifluoromethane sulfonate membrane showed the highest proton conductivity—~5 × 10⁻² mS/cm and ~0.1 mS/cm at 100 °C and 150 °C, respectively. This result makes the obtained membranes attractive for medium-temperature fuel-cell application.

Structure-Property Relationship of Polymerized Ionic Liquids for Solid-State Electrolyte Membranes

Eight new polymerized ammonium-based ionic liquids were prepared as thin membrane films and evaluated within the scope of their usage in lithium-ion batteries. The focus of this work is to get a better understanding of the influence of structural modifications of the monomers on the polymerized materials. Further, different concentrations of a lithium-ion conducting salt were applied in order to receive an optimized combination of monomer structure and lithium salt concentration. It was found that an increased side chain length of the studied ammonium-based polymerized ionic liquids leads to a reduction in glass transition temperatures and increased ionic conductivity values. As a result of the addition of conducting salt to the PIL membranes, the glass transition temperatures and the ionic conductivity values decreases. Nevertheless, PFG-NMR reveals a higher lithium-ion mobility for a sample with higher conducting salt content.

Pyrrolidinium Containing Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Li-Based Batteries

Ionic liquids are potential alternative electrolytes to the more conventional solid-state options under investigation for future energy storage solutions. This review addresses the utilization of IL electrolytes in energy storage devices, particularly pyrrolidinium-based ILs. These ILs offer favorable properties, such as high ionic conductivity and the potential for high power drain, low volatility and wide electrochemical stability windows (ESW). The cation/anion combination utilized significantly influences their physical and electrochemical properties, therefore a thorough discussion of different combinations is outlined. Compatibility with a wide array of cathode and anode materials such as LFP, V₂O₅, Ge and Sn is exhibited, whereby thin-films and nanostructured materials are investigated for micro energy applications. Polymer gel electrolytes suitable for layer-by-layer fabrication are discussed for the various pyrrolidinium cations, and their compatibility with electrode materials assessed. Recent advancements regarding the modification of typical cations such a 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium, to produce ether-functionalized or symmetrical cations is discussed.

Facilitated Chromium(VI) Transport across an Ionic Liquid Membrane Impregnated with Cyphos IL102

Chromium(VI) is a well-known hazardous element, thus, its removal from aqueous sources is of a general concern. Among the technologies used for the removal of this type of toxic elements, liquid membranes are gaining in importance and the same has occurred with the use of ionic liquids, considered for many, due to their properties, as green solvents. Thus, the present work joined the three previous points, presenting an experimental study about the removal of chromium(VI) by the use of a liquid membrane operation which used the commercially available Cyphos IL102 ionic liquid as a carrier. The experimental variables included: the stirring speed applied to the feed and receiving solution (a key-parameter to gain maximum transport), acid, chromium(VI), sodium hydroxide and Cyphos IL102 concentrations in their various phases. Additionally, the performance of the present system was evaluated both against the presence of other metals in solution and other carriers. The experimental results confirmed that Cyphos IL102 is a good carrier for chromium(VI) transport and, thus, its removal from aqueous streams, and it also performed well in the presence of accompanying metals and against the performance of other commercially available carriers.