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Polymers
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High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy...
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High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2020) | Viewed by 17351

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Fu-Ming Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Interests: lithium ion battery; in-situ/operando obervation; interfaicial electrochemistry; polymer electrolyte
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of high ionic conductivity soft matter is a key component for energy storage and energy conversion devices. In past several decades, polyethylene oxide (PEO) has served as a candidate for solid or gel polymer electrolytes. However, the crystallinity of PEO limits its ionic conductivity, diffusivity, and the applications at high temperature. Therefore, new polymers with high ionic conductivity and high performances are being developed, such as polysiloxane, polyimide, polycarbonate, and so on.

This Special Issue is concerned with the ionic transport (migration/diffusion) phenomena to the design/application of linear or cross-link chain structure. Topics may include the studies of material development, ionic transport simulation/calculation, ionic kinetics, in situ/operando observation, cell/battery performance, and chemical/physical behaviors. Ideally, contributions focusing on fundamental results, algorithms, mechanisms, statistical physics, and/or applications will help to compile a Special Issue that accurately portrays the current state-of-the-art and to highlight their range of application. Both original contributions and reviews are welcome.

Prof.  Fu-Ming Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Energy storage
  • Energy conversion
  • Solid/gel polymer electrolyte
  • Lithium ion battery
  • Beyond lithium ion battery
  • Fuel cell
  • Dye sensitive solar cell
  • Simulation/calculation
  • Membrane
  • Thin film
  • Primary battery
  • Capacitor
  • Organic battery
  • Organic solar cell

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2692 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of UV-Crosslinked Flexible Solid Polymer Electrolyte with PDMS for Li-Ion Batteries
by Sandugash Kalybekkyzy, Al-Farabi Kopzhassar, Memet Vezir Kahraman, Almagul Mentbayeva and Zhumabay Bakenov
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010015 - 23 Dec 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6714
Abstract
Conventional carbonate-based liquid electrolytes have safety issues related to their high flammability and easy leakage. Therefore, it is essential to develop alternative electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As a potential candidate, solid-polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer enhanced safety characteristics, while to be widely applied [...] Read more.
Conventional carbonate-based liquid electrolytes have safety issues related to their high flammability and easy leakage. Therefore, it is essential to develop alternative electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As a potential candidate, solid-polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer enhanced safety characteristics, while to be widely applied their performance still has to be improved. Here, we have prepared a series of UV-photocrosslinked flexible SPEs comprising poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), trimethylolpropane ethoxylate triacrylate (ETPTA), and lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt, with the addition of polydimethylsiloxane with acrylated terminal groups (acryl-PDMS) to diminish the crystallinity of the poly(ethylene glycol) chain. Polysiloxanes have gained interest for the fabrication of SPEs due to their unique features, such as decrement of glass transition temperature (Tg), and the ability to improve flexibility and facilitate lithium-ion transport. Freestanding, transparent SPEs with excellent flexibility and mechanical properties were achieved without any supporting backbone, despite the high content of lithium salt, which was enabled by their networked structure, the presence of polar functional groups, and their amorphous structure. The highest ionic conductivity for the developed cross-linked SPEs was 1.75 × 10−6 S cm−1 at room temperature and 1.07 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 80 °C. The SPEs demonstrated stable Li plating/stripping ability and excellent compatibility toward metallic lithium, and exhibited high electrochemical stability in a wide range of potentials, which enables application in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion)
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14 pages, 5024 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Photovoltaics of Novel 2,3,4,5-Tetrathienylthiophene-co-poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) Donor Polymer for Organic Solar Cell
by Morongwa E. Ramoroka, Siyabonga B. Mdluli, Vivian S. John-Denk, Kwena D. Modibane, Christopher J. Arendse and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha
Polymers 2021, 13(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13010002 - 22 Dec 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2637
Abstract
This report focuses on the synthesis of novel 2,3,4,5-tetrathienylthiophene-co-poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (TTT-co-P3HT) as a donor material for organic solar cells (OSCs). The properties of the synthesized TTT-co-P3HT were compared with those of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl (P3HT). The structure of TTT-co-P3HT was studied using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy [...] Read more.
This report focuses on the synthesis of novel 2,3,4,5-tetrathienylthiophene-co-poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (TTT-co-P3HT) as a donor material for organic solar cells (OSCs). The properties of the synthesized TTT-co-P3HT were compared with those of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl (P3HT). The structure of TTT-co-P3HT was studied using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was seen that TTT-co-P3HT possessed a broader electrochemical and optical band-gap as compared to P3HT. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to determine lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy gaps of TTT-co-P3HT and P3HT were found to be 2.19 and 1.97 eV, respectively. Photoluminescence revealed that TTT-co-P3HT:PC71BM have insufficient electron/hole separation and charge transfer when compared to P3HT:PC71BM. All devices were fabricated outside a glovebox. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.15% was obtained for P3HT:PC71BM device and 0.14% was obtained for TTT-co-P3HT:PC71BM device. Further studies were done on fabricated OSCs during this work using electrochemical methods. The studies revealed that the presence of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) causes a reduction in cyclic voltammogram oxidation/reduction peak current and increases the charge transfer resistance in comparison with a bare ITO. We also examined the ITO/PEDOT:PSS electrode coated with TTT-co-P3HT:PC71BM, TTT-co-P3HT:PC71BM/ZnO, P3HT:PC71BM and P3HT:PC71BM/ZnO. The study revealed that PEDOT:PSS does not completely block electrons from active layer to reach the ITO electrode. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion)
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10 pages, 3702 KiB  
Article
Maleamic Acid as an Organic Anode Material in Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Berhanemeskel Atsbeha Kahsay, Fu-Ming Wang, Alem Gebrelibanos Hailu and Chia-Hung Su
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1109; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051109 - 13 May 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3938
Abstract
Low-molecular-weight carbonyl-containing compounds are considered beneficial energy storage materials in alkali metal-ion/alkaline earth metal-ion secondary batteries owing to the ease of their synthesis, low cost, rapid kinetics, and high theoretical energy density. This study aims to prepare a novel carbonyl compound containing a [...] Read more.
Low-molecular-weight carbonyl-containing compounds are considered beneficial energy storage materials in alkali metal-ion/alkaline earth metal-ion secondary batteries owing to the ease of their synthesis, low cost, rapid kinetics, and high theoretical energy density. This study aims to prepare a novel carbonyl compound containing a maleamic acid (MA) backbone as a material with carbon black to a new MA anode electrode for a lithium-ion battery. MA was subjected to attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and its morphology was assessed through scanning electron microscopy, followed by differential scanning calorimetry to determine its thermal stability. Thereafter, the electrochemical properties of MA were investigated in coin cells (2032-type) containing Li metal as a reference electrode. The MA anode electrode delivered a high reversible capacity of about 685 mAh g−1 in the first cycle and a higher rate capability than that of the pristine carbon black electrode. Energy bandgap analysis, electrochemical impedance, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that MA significantly reduces cell impedance by reforming its chemical structure into new nitrogen-based highly ionic diffusion compounds. This combination of a new MA anode electrode with MA and carbon black can increase the performance of the lithium-ion battery, and MA majorly outweighs transitional carbon black. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion)
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11 pages, 3136 KiB  
Article
Superior Ionic Transferring Polymer with Silicon Dioxide Composite Membrane via Phase Inversion Method Designed for High Performance Sodium-Ion Battery
by Ponnaiah Arjunan, Mathiyalagan Kouthaman, Rengapillai Subadevi, Karuppiah Diwakar, Wei-Ren Liu, Chia-Hung Huang and Marimuthu Sivakumar
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020405 - 11 Feb 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3544
Abstract
Superior sodium-ion-conducting polymer poly(vinyledene fluoride)–silicon dioxide (PVdF-SiO2) composite separator membrane was prepared via simple phase inversion method, which is a suitable alternative conventional polypropylene membrane. Basically, PVdF is the promising for use as high porous polymer electrolyte membrane due to its [...] Read more.
Superior sodium-ion-conducting polymer poly(vinyledene fluoride)–silicon dioxide (PVdF-SiO2) composite separator membrane was prepared via simple phase inversion method, which is a suitable alternative conventional polypropylene membrane. Basically, PVdF is the promising for use as high porous polymer electrolyte membrane due to its high dielectric constant (ε = 8.4). In this work, we prepared a composite membrane using PVdF-SiO2 via phase inversion method. This work was systematically studied towards the morphology, porosity, and electrochemical properties of as prepared membrane. The electrolyte uptake capability of separator membrane tested with 1 M NaPF6 electrolyte solution and temperature-dependent ionic conduction test were performed at various temperatures. This membrane exhibits higher ionic conductivity of 4.7 × 10−2 S cm−1 at room temperature. The physical properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, and FE-SEM micrographs analyses. The electrochemical performances with impedance analysis carried for prepared membrane with the as-prepared sodium P2-type cathode material. The material showed an initial discharge capacity of 178 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C between 2 and 4 V with 98% columbic efficiency and 81% capacity retention after 50 cycles upon using the as-prepared PVdF-SiO2 composite separator membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Ionic Conductivity Soft Matter for Energy Storage and Energy Conversion)
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