Jin Kie Shim

Compliant polymer network-mediated fabrication of a bendable plastic crystal polymer electrolyte for flexible lithium-ion batteries

We demonstrate a bendable plastic crystal polymer electrolyte (referred to as “B-PCPE”) for use in flexible lithium-ion batteries. The B-PCPE proposed herein is composed of a plastic crystal electrolyte (PCE, 1 M lithium bis-trifluoromethanesulphonimide (LiTFSI) in succinonitrile (SN)) and a UV (ultraviolet)-cured polymer network bearing long linear hydrocarbon chains (here, trimethylolpropane propoxylate triacrylate (TPPTA) polymer is exploited). The solid electrolyte characteristics of the B-PCPE are investigated in terms of plastic crystal behavior, mechanical bendability, ionic conductivity, and cell performance. Owing to the presence of long linear hydrocarbon chains attached to crosslinkable acrylate groups, the TPPTA polymer network in the B-PCPE acts as a compliant mechanical framework, thereby exerting a beneficial influence on bendability and also interfacial resistance with lithium metal electrodes. Meanwhile, the B-PCPE exhibits slightly lower ionic conductivity than a control sample (referred to as “R-PCPE”) incorporating a rigid and stiff polymer network of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA). This unique behavior of the B-PCPE is discussed with an in-depth consideration of the polymer network structure and its specific interaction with the lattice defect phase of SN in the PCE. Although relatively sluggish ionic transport is observed in the B-PCPE, its intimate interfacial contact with electrodes (possibly due to the mechanically compliant TPPTA polymer network) may beneficially contribute to imparting satisfactory cycling performance.

A shape-deformable and thermally stable solid-state electrolyte based on a plastic crystal composite polymer electrolyte for flexible/safer lithium-ion batteries

A solid-state electrolyte with reliable electrochemical performance, mechanical robustness and safety features is strongly pursued to facilitate the progress of flexible batteries. Here, we demonstrate a shape-deformable and thermally stable plastic crystal composite polymer electrolyte (denoted as “PC-CPE”) as a new class of solid-state electrolyte to achieve this challenging goal. The PC-CPE is composed of UV (ultraviolet)-cured ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) macromer/close-packed Al2O3 nanoparticles (acting as the mechanical framework) and succinonitrile-mediated plastic crystal electrolyte (serving as the ionic transport channel). This chemical/structural uniqueness of the PC-CPE brings remarkable improvement in mechanical flexibility and thermal stability, as compared to conventional carbonate-based liquid electrolytes that are fluidic and volatile. In addition, the PC-CPE precursor mixture (i.e., prior to UV irradiation) with well-adjusted rheological properties, via collaboration with a UV-assisted imprint lithography technique, produces the micropatterned PC-CPE with tunable dimensions. Notably, the cell incorporating the self-standing PC-CPE, which acts as a thermally stable electrolyte and also a separator membrane, maintains stable charge/discharge behavior even after exposure to thermal shock condition (=130 °C/0.5 h), while a control cell assembled with a carbonate-based liquid electrolyte and a polyethylene separator membrane loses electrochemical activity.

Homogeneous decoration of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with core–shell structures on carbon nanotubes

Considerable attention has focused on the combination of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) since both nanomaterials have outstanding properties. We describe a method for the homogeneous decoration of a MOF (ZIF-8 was chosen) onto the surfaces of CNTs dispersed by polyvinylpyrrolidones (PVPs) in methanol, which was revealed by a scanning electron microscopic study. The homogeneous coating of the MOF on the CNTs, and nanostructures of the CNT-MOF were controlled by simply changing the concentrations of the MOFs. Furthermore, this method was also applicable to graphene and graphene oxide (GO). CO2 uptakes of the CNT-MOF and graphene-MOF were significantly improved as compared to the nonhomogeneous composites synthesized without the PVP functionalization, and a good reproducibility of the CO2 adsorption was confirmed by the cycling test.