Crosslinked PDMS Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solid or semi-solid ionic materials face challenges in achieving high thermal stability, mechanical flexibility, and ionic conductivity, while also being difficult to prepare and costly.
Innovation Solution
A crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) network with an ionic liquid and lithium salt dispersed within, forming a thermally stable and mechanically flexible ionic material that can be easily prepared, used as electrolytes in electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer ionic materials are prepared via self-assembly of block copolymers or in situ polymerization, then high ionic conductivity can be achieved, but thermal stability is low and mechanical stiffness is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ionic liquid with crosslinked polymer networks to create composite ionic materials. The ionic liquid component provides high ionic conductivity while the crosslinked polymer matrix provides thermal stability and mechanical flexibility, resolving the contradiction between ionic conductivity and thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer matrix by introducing crosslinking structures and selecting specific polymer backbones (siloxane, carbonate, carboxylate). This allows the material to maintain high ionic conductivity while achieving superior thermal stability and adjustable mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If polymer ionic materials are prepared via self-assembly of block copolymers or in situ polymerization, then high ionic conductivity can be achieved, but mechanical flexibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The ionic liquid-polymer composite structure allows the ionic liquid to act as a plasticizer within the polymer matrix, providing mechanical flexibility while maintaining the continuous ionic pathways needed for high ionic conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local regions of high ionic liquid concentration within the polymer matrix, forming conductive pathways that maintain high ionic conductivity while the overall composite structure retains mechanical flexibility from the polymer matrix.
3Temperature
If conventional methods are used to prepare solid electrolytes, then thermal stability can be improved, but preparation difficulty increases and cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pre-synthesized ionic liquids with predetermined structures and properties, which are then simply mixed with polymer precursors and crosslinked. This preliminary preparation of the ionic liquid component simplifies the overall manufacturing process while maintaining high thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The crosslinking process occurs in situ within the ionic liquid-polymer mixture, allowing the material to self-assemble its stable network structure without requiring complex external processing equipment or multiple manufacturing steps.
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
The resulting ionic material exhibits high ionic conductivity, thermal stability up to 300°C, mechanical flexibility, and can be used in batteries and capacitors, offering improved performance and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
These materials are typically prepared via self-assembly of block copolymers or via in situ thermally or UV initiated radical polymerization
Implementation Method 2
A variety of structural support substrates, e.g., polymers, colloidal particles, carbon nanotubes, and small organic gelators, have been used to immobilize ionic liquids in solid or semi-solid ionic materials
Data Source
AI summary
An ionic material that contains a crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane network and an ionic liquid and, optionally, a lithium salt. Also disclosed are a methods of preparing the above-described ionic material, as well as a battery and a capacitor each including the ionic material as an electrolyte.