POLYMER SOLID ELECTROLYTES WITH SPECIFIC CATION CONDUCTION

SOLVENT-FREE POLYMER ELECTROLYTES HAVE GENERATED MUCH INTEREST BECAUSE OF THEIR POTENTIAL USE IN A VARIETY OF THIN FILM ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES, SUCH AS THIN FILM RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES, PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS, AND ELECTROCHROMIC SYSTEMS. THIN FILM RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES INCORPORATING POLYMER ELECTROLYTES HAVE EMERGED AS A PARTICULARLY PROMISING BATTERY TECHNOLOGY WITH EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITY AND CYCLABILITY. THE CENTRAL PROBLEM FOR DEVELOPMENT OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE BASED BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IS INADEQUATE ION CONDUCTIVITY AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE CONDUCTIVITY PROBLEM BY DEVELOPING A NEW CLASS OF ION- CONDUCTING POLYMERS WITH HIGHER ION MOBILITY THAN ACHIEVED PREVIOUSLY. THE POLYMERS WILL BE MODIFIED TO BECOME SINGLE-ION CONDUCTORS FOR EXCLUSIVE CATION CONDUCTION. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFICIENT SINGLE-ION CONDUCTORS TAILORED TO SPECIFIC CATIONS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCE THE STATE OF THE ART OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTE TECHNOLOGY.