Journalpaper

Morphology–Ionic Conductivity Relationship in Polymer–Titania Hybrid Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

The morphology and ionic conductivity of a high-molecular-weight polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) diblock copolymer (DBC) solid-state hybrid electrolyte, prepared entirely from solution, containing the lithium salt LiTFSI ([Li]/[EO] = 0.1) and titania (TiO2) nanoparticles (NP) were investigated at different temperatures. Structure investigation using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicates a rupture of the DBC morphology upon increasing TiO2–NP content, without a significant decrease in the ionic conductivity at high TiO2–NP contents. A high number of unbound charge carriers in the hybrid DBC electrolyte, achieved by careful tuning of the materials’ ratios, is the most important contribution to a high ionic conductivity.
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