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Electrodeposited polymer electrolytes for 3D Li-ion microbatteries

Electrodeposited polymer electrolytes for 3D Li-ion microbatteries
Electrodeposited polymer electrolytes for 3D Li-ion microbatteries
The electropolymerisation of vinyl monomers has been investigated as a route to the conformal deposition of thin polymer electrolyte films on porous electrode surfaces, for application in 3D Li-ion microbatteries. The deposition of poly(acrylonitrile) and poly(poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) has been monitored using cyclic voltammetry and an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). It was determined that the polymerisation reaction may be initiated either by direct reduction of the monomer or via a separate reactive intermediate such as the superoxide anion. Furthermore, it was established that film thickness was easily controlled under cyclic voltammetry conditions, for example by varying the number of cycles. However, the choice of solvent and electrode surface was found to be of critical importance.

This electropolymerisation technique was adapted to achieve the single step electrodeposition of a gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). Modification of the polymer to improve the mechanical properties and ionic conductivity was achieved by the incorporation of silica nanoparticles and plasticising monoacrylates into the polymer matrix. Through these modification procedures a PEGDA-based electrolyte was prepared with an ionic conductivity of the order of 10?4 S cm?1 and demonstrated, for the first time, sufficient mechanical strength to be used as the separator in spring-pressured planar half- and full cell configurations.

The conformal nature of the deposit was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and it was found that a uniform film of thickness as low as 2 ?m was easily achievable. An initial attempt at a full 3D Li-ion microbattery cell based on a carbon foam substrate using composite electrode materials was made. The electrodeposited polymer electrolyte showed good electronic isolation and the cell showed limited cycling ability. The internal structure of the 3D cell was investigated by SEM and x-ray computed tomography.
Lacey, Matthew James
d4b4bffb-0ef6-48cb-aceb-6375ead0d822
Lacey, Matthew James
d4b4bffb-0ef6-48cb-aceb-6375ead0d822
Owen, John R.
067986ea-f3f3-4a83-bc87-7387cc5ac85d

Lacey, Matthew James (2012) Electrodeposited polymer electrolytes for 3D Li-ion microbatteries. University of Southampton, Chemistry, Doctoral Thesis, 239pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The electropolymerisation of vinyl monomers has been investigated as a route to the conformal deposition of thin polymer electrolyte films on porous electrode surfaces, for application in 3D Li-ion microbatteries. The deposition of poly(acrylonitrile) and poly(poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) has been monitored using cyclic voltammetry and an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). It was determined that the polymerisation reaction may be initiated either by direct reduction of the monomer or via a separate reactive intermediate such as the superoxide anion. Furthermore, it was established that film thickness was easily controlled under cyclic voltammetry conditions, for example by varying the number of cycles. However, the choice of solvent and electrode surface was found to be of critical importance.

This electropolymerisation technique was adapted to achieve the single step electrodeposition of a gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). Modification of the polymer to improve the mechanical properties and ionic conductivity was achieved by the incorporation of silica nanoparticles and plasticising monoacrylates into the polymer matrix. Through these modification procedures a PEGDA-based electrolyte was prepared with an ionic conductivity of the order of 10?4 S cm?1 and demonstrated, for the first time, sufficient mechanical strength to be used as the separator in spring-pressured planar half- and full cell configurations.

The conformal nature of the deposit was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and it was found that a uniform film of thickness as low as 2 ?m was easily achievable. An initial attempt at a full 3D Li-ion microbattery cell based on a carbon foam substrate using composite electrode materials was made. The electrodeposited polymer electrolyte showed good electronic isolation and the cell showed limited cycling ability. The internal structure of the 3D cell was investigated by SEM and x-ray computed tomography.

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Published date: 19 December 2012
Organisations: University of Southampton, Chemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348605
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348605
PURE UUID: d71a59fe-64b4-4683-b0fa-f2ec07e54ba1
ORCID for John R. Owen: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-3693

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 18 Feb 2013 09:43
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:44

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Contributors

Author: Matthew James Lacey
Thesis advisor: John R. Owen ORCID iD

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