Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The development and electrochemical characteristics of ionic liquid crystal elastomers (iLCEs) are described for use as electrolyte components in lithium-ion batteries. The unique combination of elastic and liquid crystal properties in iLCEs grants them robust mechanical attributes and structural or...

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Main Authors: Zakaria Siddiquee, Hyunsang Lee, Weinan Xu, Thein Kyu, Antal Jákli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Batteries
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/106
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author Zakaria Siddiquee
Hyunsang Lee
Weinan Xu
Thein Kyu
Antal Jákli
author_facet Zakaria Siddiquee
Hyunsang Lee
Weinan Xu
Thein Kyu
Antal Jákli
author_sort Zakaria Siddiquee
collection DOAJ
description The development and electrochemical characteristics of ionic liquid crystal elastomers (iLCEs) are described for use as electrolyte components in lithium-ion batteries. The unique combination of elastic and liquid crystal properties in iLCEs grants them robust mechanical attributes and structural ordering. Specifically, the macroscopic alignment of phase-segregated, ordered nanostructures in iLCEs serves as an ion pathway, which can be solidified through photopolymerization to create ion-conductive solid-state polymer lithium batteries (SSPLBs) with high ionic conductivity (1.76 × 10<sup>−3</sup> S cm<sup>−1</sup> at 30 °C), and a high (0.61) transference number. Additionally, the rubbery state ensures good interfacial contact with electrodes that inhibits lithium dendrite formation. Furthermore, in contrast to liquid electrolytes, the iLCE shrinks upon heating, thus preventing any overheating-related explosions. The Li/LiFePO<sub>4</sub> (LFP) cells fabricated using iLCE-based solid electrolytes show excellent cycling stability with a discharge capacity of ~124 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> and a coulombic efficiency close to 100%. These results are promising for the practical application of iLCE-based SSPLBs.
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issn 2313-0105
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series Batteries
spelling doaj-art-8a180e2869974f3097e41cf3eaabed232025-08-20T02:11:12ZengMDPI AGBatteries2313-01052025-03-0111310610.3390/batteries11030106Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion BatteriesZakaria Siddiquee0Hyunsang Lee1Weinan Xu2Thein Kyu3Antal Jákli4Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USASchool of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USASchool of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USASchool of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USAMaterials Science Graduate Program and Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent, OH 44242, USAThe development and electrochemical characteristics of ionic liquid crystal elastomers (iLCEs) are described for use as electrolyte components in lithium-ion batteries. The unique combination of elastic and liquid crystal properties in iLCEs grants them robust mechanical attributes and structural ordering. Specifically, the macroscopic alignment of phase-segregated, ordered nanostructures in iLCEs serves as an ion pathway, which can be solidified through photopolymerization to create ion-conductive solid-state polymer lithium batteries (SSPLBs) with high ionic conductivity (1.76 × 10<sup>−3</sup> S cm<sup>−1</sup> at 30 °C), and a high (0.61) transference number. Additionally, the rubbery state ensures good interfacial contact with electrodes that inhibits lithium dendrite formation. Furthermore, in contrast to liquid electrolytes, the iLCE shrinks upon heating, thus preventing any overheating-related explosions. The Li/LiFePO<sub>4</sub> (LFP) cells fabricated using iLCE-based solid electrolytes show excellent cycling stability with a discharge capacity of ~124 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> and a coulombic efficiency close to 100%. These results are promising for the practical application of iLCE-based SSPLBs.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/106lithium-batterysolid-state batterypolymer electrolyteliquid crystalionic liquid crystal elastomerplasticizer
spellingShingle Zakaria Siddiquee
Hyunsang Lee
Weinan Xu
Thein Kyu
Antal Jákli
Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Batteries
lithium-battery
solid-state battery
polymer electrolyte
liquid crystal
ionic liquid crystal elastomer
plasticizer
title Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
title_full Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
title_fullStr Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
title_full_unstemmed Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
title_short Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries
title_sort plasticized ionic liquid crystal elastomer emulsion based polymer electrolyte for lithium ion batteries
topic lithium-battery
solid-state battery
polymer electrolyte
liquid crystal
ionic liquid crystal elastomer
plasticizer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/106
work_keys_str_mv AT zakariasiddiquee plasticizedionicliquidcrystalelastomeremulsionbasedpolymerelectrolyteforlithiumionbatteries
AT hyunsanglee plasticizedionicliquidcrystalelastomeremulsionbasedpolymerelectrolyteforlithiumionbatteries
AT weinanxu plasticizedionicliquidcrystalelastomeremulsionbasedpolymerelectrolyteforlithiumionbatteries
AT theinkyu plasticizedionicliquidcrystalelastomeremulsionbasedpolymerelectrolyteforlithiumionbatteries
AT antaljakli plasticizedionicliquidcrystalelastomeremulsionbasedpolymerelectrolyteforlithiumionbatteries