Rechargeable Polymer Electrolyte Batteries

Polymer electrolytes with significantly higher conductivity and stability than that of the present generation materials are needed to develop batteries for the individual soldier. To this end, Covalent Associates will develop single ion-conducting polymer electrolytes from enzyme catalyzed reactions of aromatic monomers with the carboxylic, phenolic or sulfonic functional groups. The unique structural features of these materials will provide them with high ambient temperature conductivity and their single ion Li+ conductivity will translate into high power for Li batteries. The polymer electrolytes synthesized will be characterized with respect to conductivity, electrochemical stability and membrane-forming properties. The usefulness of the electrolytes for rechargeable Li batteries will be determined by the construction and testing of Li/Polymer Electrolyte/LiNi0.7Co 0.3 O2 cells