Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?

Within the development of structural batteries, finding the optimal electrolyte composition, that is, one that offers both high ionic conductivity and mechanical stiffness, is essential. Structural batteries are multifunctional composites able to store electrical energy within load‐bearing elements...

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Main Authors: Nicole Abdou, Achilleas Pipertzis, Richa Chaudhary, Lars Evenäs, Johanna Xu, Leif E. Asp, Jan Swenson, Anna Martinelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2025-05-01
Series:Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202500013
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author Nicole Abdou
Achilleas Pipertzis
Richa Chaudhary
Lars Evenäs
Johanna Xu
Leif E. Asp
Jan Swenson
Anna Martinelli
author_facet Nicole Abdou
Achilleas Pipertzis
Richa Chaudhary
Lars Evenäs
Johanna Xu
Leif E. Asp
Jan Swenson
Anna Martinelli
author_sort Nicole Abdou
collection DOAJ
description Within the development of structural batteries, finding the optimal electrolyte composition, that is, one that offers both high ionic conductivity and mechanical stiffness, is essential. Structural batteries are multifunctional composites able to store electrical energy within load‐bearing elements of devices. Their use results in a significant mass reduction, thereby improving fuel efficiency and enabling a shift to sustainable energy. In this work, structural battery electrolytes consisting of a methacrylate‐based polymer, 1‐ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide protic ionic liquid, and a lithium salt are investigated. Interestingly, the transport properties of the confined liquid electrolyte seem primarily limited by the percolation of the polymer network. Furthermore, upon confinement, a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the polymer phase and weaker intermolecular interactions are observed, which correlate to faster local dynamics. The self‐diffusivity of the Li ions keeps high with respect to the other diffusing ions and tends to decouple from the anions upon increased temperature. The composite sample with 50 wt% of liquid electrolyte shows an ionic conductivity of ≈0.1 mS cm−1 with a shear storage modulus of ≈150 MPa and was thus selected for proof‐of‐concept tests by electrochemical methods. Overall, this comprehensive study highlights the versatility of these biphasic systems for various applications.
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issn 2699-9412
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series Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
spelling doaj-art-49f3c13ba59e46b6ba38775f83796d772025-08-20T03:11:22ZengWiley-VCHAdvanced Energy & Sustainability Research2699-94122025-05-0165n/an/a10.1002/aesr.202500013Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?Nicole Abdou0Achilleas Pipertzis1Richa Chaudhary2Lars Evenäs3Johanna Xu4Leif E. Asp5Jan Swenson6Anna Martinelli7Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Chalmers University of Technology 41296 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Physics Chalmers University of Technology 41296 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Industrial and Materials Science Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability Chalmers University of Technology 41258 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Chalmers University of Technology 41296 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Industrial and Materials Science Chalmers University of Technology 41258 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Industrial and Materials Science Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability Chalmers University of Technology 41258 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Physics Chalmers University of Technology 41296 Gothenburg SwedenDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Chalmers University of Technology 41296 Gothenburg SwedenWithin the development of structural batteries, finding the optimal electrolyte composition, that is, one that offers both high ionic conductivity and mechanical stiffness, is essential. Structural batteries are multifunctional composites able to store electrical energy within load‐bearing elements of devices. Their use results in a significant mass reduction, thereby improving fuel efficiency and enabling a shift to sustainable energy. In this work, structural battery electrolytes consisting of a methacrylate‐based polymer, 1‐ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide protic ionic liquid, and a lithium salt are investigated. Interestingly, the transport properties of the confined liquid electrolyte seem primarily limited by the percolation of the polymer network. Furthermore, upon confinement, a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the polymer phase and weaker intermolecular interactions are observed, which correlate to faster local dynamics. The self‐diffusivity of the Li ions keeps high with respect to the other diffusing ions and tends to decouple from the anions upon increased temperature. The composite sample with 50 wt% of liquid electrolyte shows an ionic conductivity of ≈0.1 mS cm−1 with a shear storage modulus of ≈150 MPa and was thus selected for proof‐of‐concept tests by electrochemical methods. Overall, this comprehensive study highlights the versatility of these biphasic systems for various applications.https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202500013cross‐linked polymersenergy materialsLi ionmechanical propertiesprotic ionic liquidsthermal properties
spellingShingle Nicole Abdou
Achilleas Pipertzis
Richa Chaudhary
Lars Evenäs
Johanna Xu
Leif E. Asp
Jan Swenson
Anna Martinelli
Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research
cross‐linked polymers
energy materials
Li ion
mechanical properties
protic ionic liquids
thermal properties
title Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
title_full Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
title_fullStr Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
title_full_unstemmed Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
title_short Structural Battery Electrolytes Based on a Cross‐Linked Methacrylate Polymer and a Protic Ionic Liquid: Is There an Optimal Composition?
title_sort structural battery electrolytes based on a cross linked methacrylate polymer and a protic ionic liquid is there an optimal composition
topic cross‐linked polymers
energy materials
Li ion
mechanical properties
protic ionic liquids
thermal properties
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202500013
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