Rechargeable Organic Radical Battery with Electrospun, Fibrous Membrane-Based Polymer Electrolyte

Abstract

An organic radical battery ͑ORB͒ operating at room temperature with lithium metal anode and radical polymer poly͑2,2,6,6tetramethylpiperidinyloxy-4-ylmethacrylate͒ ͑PTMA͒ cathode with a microporous polymer electrolyte based on electrospun poly͑vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene͒ membrane has been demonstrated. The polymer electrolyte with a fully interconnected pore structure, high electrolyte uptake, and high ionic conductivity is found to be suitable for use in PTMA-based ORBs. The cell with a thin cathode of 17 m thickness incorporating 40 wt % of PTMA exhibits a discharge capacity of 111 mAh/g at 1 C-rate ͑0.1 mA/cm 2 ͒ that corresponds to ϳ100% theoretical capacity. Good rate capability is shown by the ORB; thus, a specific capacity of 98 mAh/g is delivered even at the very high 50 C-rate. A stable cycle property is obtained at all C-rates, with the cathode structure remaining intact during cycling. The polymer electrolyte shows good compatibility with the electrodes and leads to a decrease of electrode/electrolyte interfacial resistance with cycling. The study indicates the suitability of microporous, polymer electrolyte-based ORB as a safe, lightweight, environmentally benign, flexible battery with high power-rate capability for varied applications.

Applications of electrospun nanofibers

“…It was also found that the formation of interconnected web structure via heat treatment improved both the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of nanofiber membranes [259,260] . Similar results were also obtained using poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) P(VdF-co-HFP) nanofiber membrane as separator [261][262][263] .…”

Investigation of Oxidation Methods of Organic Radical Polymer for Cathode Material in Lithium Ion Batteries

“…As a typical polymer for ORP, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy-4-yl methacrylate) (PTMA) has been widely investigated, which has additional strong merits such as high energy density, nontoxicity, high safety and good fabrication property. 6,7 Using radical polymerization, especially, PTMA polymer has been prepared. In this method, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-4-yl methacrylate (TMA) monomer was polymerized using initiator, which produced polymerized-TMA (p-TMA).…”

Electrospinning of radical polymers: redox-active fibrous membrane formation

“…18 The one-dimensionally aligned, nanostructured LiCoO 2 and metal oxides prepared by solgel related electrospinning techniques have also exhibited superior electrochemical properties as electrode-active materials for smaller batteries. 19,20 On the other hand, electrospinning of redox-active polymers, such as inherently conducting polymers in pure form, has been unsuccessful, ascribed to the intractability of doped state of the polymer (rigid structure and limited solubility).…”