Soft Matter Seminar: Transport and structural phenomena in molecular ionic composite electrolytes

Louis A. Madsen, Department of Chemistry and Macromolecules Innovation Institute, Virginia Tech

Abstract: Our group has been developing a class of solid electrolytes based on a highly charged double helical polymer combined with various mobile ions (ionic liquids, salts, acids, etc.).  We term this class of materials molecular ionic composites (MICs), and they rely on a highly rigid and charged double helical polymer.  We can modulate the mechanical, transport, and stability properties of MICs over wide ranges by changing the chemistry and content of the polymer and other components.  I will discuss the state of understanding of MICs, from the dependence of multi-scale morphology and transport on composition, to the influence of specific molecular interactions on properties.  I will touch on extensions beyond our original MIC materials that involve addition of other polymers, segregation of nanocrystalline salt-based conducting phases, and high modulus thermo-reversible hydrogels.  I will also discuss progress toward practical alkali-metal batteries.

References:
1. J. E. Bostwick, C. J. Zanelotti, D. Yu, N. F. Pietra, T. A. Williams, L. A. Madsen, and R. H. Colby.  Journal of Materials Chemistry C (2022), 10, 947.  doi: 10.1039/d1tc04119c.
2. Y. Wang, R. Kerr, C. J. Zanelotti, W. K. Han, L. Jin, M. Forsyth, T. J. Dingemans and L. A. Madsen.  Nature Materials (2021), 20, 1265.  doi: 10.1038/s41563-021-00995-4.
3. D. Yu, X. Pan, J. E. Bostwick, C. J. Zanelotti, L. Mu, R. H. Colby, F. Lin, L. A. Madsen.  Advanced Energy Materials (2021), 11, 2003559.  doi: 10.1002/aenm.202003559.
4. Y. Wang, Y. Chen, J. Gao, H. G. Yoon, L. Jin, M. Forsyth, T. J. Dingemans, and L. A. Madsen.  Advanced Materials (2016), 28, 2571.  DOI: 10.1002/adma.201505183.