Collaborative Research: SusChEM: Perfluoroether-based Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries

Nitash Balsara / Joseph DeSimone 1505669 / 1510579虽然电动和混合动力汽车有可能减少对化石燃料的依赖，但目前为它们提供动力的可充电锂电池存在许多问题。目前的设计可以保持其理论能量含量的10%，含有高度易燃的有机液体电解质，相对昂贵，并且不像典型的汽车那样持久。 需要新的电池材料来解决这些问题。 该项目的目标是为锂电池开发不含易燃成分的高性能电解质，从而提高安全性。这些电解质将基于不易燃的氟化聚合物，旨在溶解锂离子并保持高离子电导率，以提高充电和放电速率。拟议的研究将制造和测试这些用于电池应用的新聚合物材料，并试图了解其性能背后的基础科学。 与该项目相关的拟议教育活动包括为奥克兰-伯克利地区服务不足的高中生举办的工程夏令营，该夏令营的特色是与锂电池相关的动手项目。拟议研究的总体目标是开发用于锂电池的全氟聚醚（PFPE）基电解质。据信，这种材料是一种有前途的新电解质，主要有两个原因。首先，PFPE材料是一类本质上不可燃的含氟聚合物，具有低蒸汽压以及热、化学和氧化稳定性。 第二，对于锂离子电池应用，基于PFPE的电解质也可以溶解具有氟化阴离子的锂盐。 该电解质体系具有由分子锂离子（Li+）传输主导的高电导率，这是由于PFPE材料的低玻璃化转变温度以及氟化聚合物对氟化阴离子的溶剂化，其将阴离子固定在聚合物上。 拟议的研究将合成功能化的均聚物和嵌段共聚物全氟聚醚和锂盐，表征这些电解质的电化学性能，并评估其在电化学储能测试设备中的离子传输和循环性能。 选定的研究成果将用于支持初创公司的发展，并为参与该项目的学生提供创业培训。 还计划与加州大学伯克利分校的专业发展项目和研究三角电化学学会学生分会协调开展额外的教育和外展活动。

Nitash Balsara / Joseph DeSimone 1505669 / 1510579 Although electric and hybrid vehicles have the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for transportation, the rechargeable lithium batteries that currently power them suffer from many problems. Current designs can hold 10% of their theoretical amount of energy content, contain highly flammable organic liquid electrolytes, are relatively costly, and do not last as long as a typical automobile. New battery materials are needed to address these problems. The objective of this project is to develop high-performance electrolytes for lithium batteries that have no flammable components, potentially leading to improved safety. These electrolytes will be based on nonflammable fluorinated polymers designed to dissolve lithium ions and maintain high ion conductivity for improved charging and discharging rates. The proposed research will make and test these new polymer materials for battery applications, and try to understand the fundamental science underlying their performance. The proposed educational activities associated with this project include an engineering summer camp for underserved high school students in the Oakland-Berkeley area that features hands-on projects related to lithium batteries. The overall goal of the proposed research is to develop perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based electrolytes for lithium batteries. It is believed that this material is a promising new electrolyte for two principal reasons. First, PFPE materials are a class of fluoropolymers that are intrinsically nonflammable and exhibit low vapor pressure as well as thermal, chemical and oxidative stability. Second, for lithium ion battery applications, PFPE-based electrolytes also can dissolve lithium salts with fluoridated anions. This electrolyte system possesses high conductivity dominated by molecular lithium ion (Li+) transport, owing to the low glass transition temperature of the PFPE materials, and the solvation of fluorinated anions by fluorinated polymers, which immobilizes the anion on the polymer. The proposed research will synthesize functionalized homo- and block co-polymer perfluoropolyethers and lithium salts, characterize the electrochemical properties of these electrolytes, and assess their ion transport and cycling performance in electrochemical energy storage test devices. Selected research outcomes will be used to support the development of a start-up company and provide entrepreneurial training for students involved on the project. Additional education and outreach activities are also planned in coordination with the Professional Development Program at UC Berkeley and with the Research Triangle Electrochemical Society Student Chapter.