Discipline: Chemistry & Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: STEM Research
Asem Abdulahad - Xavier University of Louisiana
Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have garnered significant attention as potential replacements to traditional liquid electrolytes. This is primarily due to safety concerns that are associated with overheating, puncturing of traditional lithium ion batteries, or short circuiting due to lithium accumulation at the surface of electrodes. Other drawbacks of using liquid electrolytes in lithium ion batteries include limited operating temperature range, corrosion of the inorganic electrode material, the need for hermetic sealing, and the growth of lithium metal dendrites with multiple charge/discharge cycles. Assuming roles as both the lithium ion transport medium as well as the electrode separator, SPEs offer a safer alternative to traditional liquid electrolytes and have the potential to increase the efficiency of lithium ion transport. The overall goal of this research is to understand and describe the fundamental relationship between polymer molecular structure and the properties SPEs. More specifically, this work focuses on probing two molecular level features that impact the properties of polycations: the distribution of charge along the polymer chain and polymer chain segmental motion. Using phosphonium ionenes (PhIn) as a model system, the influence of charge distribution along the polymer backbone on SPE properties will be reported in PhIn-PEG blends. Additionally, the influence of polymer segmental motion on SPE properties is presented for PhIn-PEG copolymers, where the PEG content reduces the glass transition temperature (increases segmental motion) for PhIn-PEG copolymers.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP (Award No. 1901479)
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,
NSF Affiliation: HBCU-UP