FAST Sulfonimide Salts for Stable Polymer Solid Electrolytes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) is chemically inert and difficult to modify, limiting its optimization for use in single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes, which are essential for high-energy storage technologies like lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries, as modifications often compromise its electrochemical stability and conductivity.

Innovation Solution

Development of Fluorinated Aryl Sulfonamide Tags (FAST) through successive nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions, allowing for the synthesis of sulfonimides with tunable chemical and electrochemical stability, maintaining the advantageous properties of TFSI while enabling conjugation to polymers for improved ion conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If LiTFSI is modified to enable conjugation to polymers, then adaptability for single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes is improved, but electrochemical stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability for single-ion conducting polymer electrolytesVSAvoidelectrochemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The TFSI anion is segmented into two separate components: a sulfonimide anion (N(SO2CF3)2-) that provides electrochemical stability, and a polymer backbone that provides mechanical structure and ion conductivity. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sulfonimide anion acts as an intermediary between the polymer matrix and lithium ions. It is covalently bonded to the polymer backbone while maintaining its ionic character, enabling it to mediate lithium ion transport while the polymer provides structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If LiTFSI is chemically modified, then ease of manufacture for conjugated structures is improved, but chemical stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufacture for conjugated structuresVSAvoidchemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The molecule is segmented into a stable sulfonimide group and a polymer backbone, allowing the stable group to be repeatedly synthesized and then incorporated into polymers through well-established conjugation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The chemical structure parameters are changed by replacing the traditional TFSI structure with a sulfonimide structure that has similar electrochemical properties but enhanced chemical stability and polymer compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional TFSI structure is used, then electrochemical stability is improved, but adaptability for polymer conjugation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrochemical stabilityVSAvoidadaptability for polymer conjugation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The TFSI structure is segmented by removing one CF3 group and replacing it with a polymerizable functional group, creating a sulfonimide derivative that maintains the core stable structure while adding conjugation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The molecular parameters are changed by modifying the TFSI structure to include polymer backbone attachments, transforming it from a simple salt to a functional polymer electrolyte component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

FAST salts demonstrate enhanced electrochemical oxidative stability, chemical stability, and reasonable ion conductivity, offering a modular platform for designing polymer-FAST conjugates that can replace TFSI in energy storage applications, addressing the limitations of LiTFSI in solid-state electrolytes.

Implementation Method 1

reasonable ion conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

successive nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNucleophilic aromatic substitution: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS12199239B2Sulfonimide salts for battery applications

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A class of sulfonimide salts for solid-state electrolytes can be synthesized based on successive SNAr reactions of fluorinated phenyl sulfonimides: Fluorinated Aryl Sulfonimide Tags (FAST). The chemical and electrochemical oxidative stability of these FAST salts as well as other properties like solubility, Lewis basicity, and conductivity can be tuned by introducing different numbers and types of nucleophilic functional groups to the FAST salt scaffold.