Polymer-electrolyte complexes application

In conclusion, polymer electrolytes based on phosphazene backbone and containing ether side chains are, after complexation with alkali metal salts, among the highest ionically solvent-free polymer salt complexes, with conductivities in the order of 10" -10" S cm However, these conductivities are still below the value of 10 S cm" which is considered to be the minimum for practical applications. Therefore the design of new polyphosphazenes electrolytes with a higher conductivity and also a higher dimensional stability still remains a challenge for future researchers. 

Since the polyelectrolytes contain only one type of mobile ion, the interpretation of conductivity data is greatly simplified. Polyelectrolytes have significant advantages for applications in electrochemical devices such as batteries. Unlike polymer-salt complexes, polyelectrolytes are not susceptible to the build up of a potentially resistive layer of high or low salt concentration at electrolyte-electrolyte interfaces during charging and discharging. Unfortunately flexible polyelectrolyte films suitable for use in devices have not yet been prepared. 

Lithium polymer electrolytes formed by dissolving a lithium salt LiX (where X is preferably a large soft anion) in poly(ethylene oxide) PEO can find useful application as separators in lithium rechargeable polymer batteries.Thin films must be used due to the relatively high ionic resistivity of these polymers. For example, the lithium-ion conductivity of PEO—Li salt complexes at 100 °C is still only about Viooth the conductivity of a typical aqueous solution. 

Ion-exchanger resins as solid polymer electrolytes, impregnated with the cations of the chosen anode metal, may prove applicable. Their use in the fuel-cell/electrolyzer single module concept is already under investigation as to complexity and operability (115). Doubtless better SPE s will be discovered. 

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) represent the newest and one of the most important (i.e. as far as potential applications are concerned) class of FIC solids. The area of polymer/salt complexes became extremely active following the work of Wright, who first reported that PEO is an excellent polymer host for a number of salts and that the resnlting polymer/salt complexes have significant electrical conductivities near room temperature. Armand extended the investigation of the electrical properties of the polymer/salt electrolytes and... 

The application of temperature-dependent line shapes and the measurements of second moments in more complex organic solids like polymers followed soon after. Even nowadays, this simple method still has its place in the characterization of materials like solid polymer electrolytes where the line widths and Ti relaxation of the charge carriers provide information about their mobility that can be correlated with the electrical conductivity of the material. More detailed information can be obtained from cases in which the interaction is well defined, i.e., when an anisotropic single-spin interaction dominates the spectrum. Typical cases are the chemical shielding anisotropy (CSA) and quadrupolar interaction for which the theory is well developed. 

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell, DMFC, (see Fig. 7-6 in section 7.2.2.4.) is another low temperature fuel cell enjoying a renaissance after significant improvements in current density. The DMFC runs on either liquid or, with better performance but higher system complexity, on gaseous methanol and is normally based on a solid polymer electrolyte (SPFC). R-Ru catalysts were found to produce best oxidation results at the anode, still the power density is relatively low [5, 29]. Conversion rates up to 34 % of the energy content into electricity were measured, an efficiency of 45 % is expected to be feasible in the future. SPFC in the power order of several kW to be used in automobile applications are currently in the development phase. 

With the aim of finding applications in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) Co tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP) and cobalt tetraazaannulene (Co-TAA) were tested for O2 reduction in acid media (IM H2SO4) with the catalysts bound with Nafion and deposited on a glassy carbon disk and rotating-disk measurements revealed high peroxide yields, as expected for cobalt complexes. 

The first measurements of ionic conductivity in polymer-salt complexes were carried out by Wright [14, 15]. The initial realization that these materials could be used as polymer electrolytes in battery applications, however, was by Armand [16, 17] and his seminal work has spawned a vigorous, expanding, world-wide research effort. In the remainder of this chapter, the terms polymer electrolyte and ion conducting polymer will be used interchangeably. 

Polyphosphazenes such as (12.240) form amorphous solvent-free complexes with various salts. These are polymer electrolytes which have potential application in batteries, ion sensors, electro-chromic displays, and so on [83-85]. 

PEO can coordinate alkali metal ions strongly and is used as a solid polymer electrolyte [20-22]. However, conventional PEO-Li salt complexes show conductivities of the order of 10 S/cm, which is not sufficient for battery, capacitor and fuel-cell applications. A high crystalline phase concentration limits the conductivity of PEO-based electrolytes. Apart from high crystallinity, PEO-based electrolytes suffer from low cation transport number (t ), ion-pair formation and inferior mechanical properties. Peter and co-workers [23] reported the modification of PEO with phenolic resin for improvement in mechanical properties and conductivity. 

Batteries. Polymer electrolytes based on PEO have been widely reviewed (220,221). The prospect of using a thin-layer, flexible battery for applications ranging from cellular phones to electric vehicles has led to several patents (222,223) and research papers in this fleld. Typically, a salt such as potassium iodide, lithium triflate, or lithium perchlorate is complexed with PEO in a methylene chloride solvent. The solution complex is cast into thin Aims and the solvent... 

Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) - LiX complexes appear to be the most suitable electrolytes for lithium polymer batteries, however, the local relaxation and segmental motion of the polymer chains remain a problem area (Armand et al., 1997). Therefore, the PEO-based electrolytes show an appreciable ionic conductivity only above 100°C (Gorecki et al., 1986). This is, of course, a drawback for applications in the consumer electronic market. On the other hand, the gel polymer electrolytes although offer high ionic conductivity and appreciable lithiiun transport properties it suffers from poor mechanical strength and interfacial properties (Croce et al., 1998 Gray et al., 1986 Kelly et al., 1985 Weston et al., 1982). Recent studies reveal that the nanocomposite polymer electrolytes alone can offer safe and reliable lithium batteries (Appetecchi... 

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