Polymer Electrolytes Based on Borane/Poly(ethylene glycol) Methyl Ether for Lithium Batteries

Abstract

This work presents a different approach to preparing polymer electrolytes having borate ester groups for lithium ion batteries. The polymers were synthesized by reaction between poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether (PEGME) and BH3-THF complex. Molecular weight of PEGMEs was changed with different chain lengths. Then the polymer electrolytes comprising boron were prepared by doping of the matrices with CF3SO3Li at various molar ratios with respect to EO to Li and they are abbreviated as PEGMEX-B-Y. The identification of the PEGME-borate esters was carried out by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Thermal properties of these electrolytes were investigated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The ionic conductivity of these novel polymer electrolytes was studied by dielectric-impedance spectroscopy. Lithium ion conductivity of these electrolytes was changed by the length of PEGME as well as the doping ratios. They exhibit approximate conductivities of 10−4 S·cm−1 at 30°C and 10−3 S·cm−1 at 100°C.