Journal article
The Polymer Structure-Ion Conductivity-Mechanical Property Relationship in Comb-Chain Polymer Network Electrolytes for Sodium Metal Batteries
ACS applied polymer materials, v 7(15), pp 9714-9722
21 Jul 2025
Abstract
Toughness reflects extensibility, which is critical for accommodating electrode volume changes in batteries, primarily due to thermal expansion. However, polymer toughness has received less attention for battery dendrite suppression than polymer modulus. Inspired by rubber chemistry, here, we investigate the polymer network structure, ion conductivity, and mechanical properties of cross-linked poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) networks containing sodium bis (fluorosulfonyl imide) (NaFSI) salt. We explore two PGMA:PEG molar ratios (1:1 and 5:1), and three salt concentrations (Na+ to EO: (r) = 0.01, 0.0625, and 0.25), and observe that lower PGMA content results in higher hydrophilicity and lower cross-link density. These properties translate to a total ion conductivity of 0.5 x 10-4 S/cm at 25 degrees C and nearly 0.5 x 10-3 S/cm at 65 degrees C for the optimum composition (1:1) and salt concentration (r = 0.0625). The polymer electrolytes exhibit good mechanical properties (elongation at strain between 125 and 140%, Young's modulus between 0.3 and 0.7 MPa, and toughness between 0.25 and 0.70 MJ/m3). By virtue of their high ion conductivity and toughness, these comb-chain network SPEs have the potential to exhibit excellent cycling performance in emerging sodium metal batteries.
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Details
- Title
- The Polymer Structure-Ion Conductivity-Mechanical Property Relationship in Comb-Chain Polymer Network Electrolytes for Sodium Metal Batteries
- Creators
- Shreyas S. Pathreeker - University of PennsylvaniaNisha H. Shah - University of PennsylvaniaWilliam R. Fullerton - Drexel University, Materials Science and EngineeringEric Detsi - University of PennsylvaniaChristopher Y. Li - Drexel University, Materials Science and EngineeringRussell J. Composto (Corresponding Author) - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- ACS applied polymer materials, v 7(15), pp 9714-9722
- Publisher
- ACS Publications
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- DMR-2309043 / Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM) US National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF) NSF through the University of Pennsylvania Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) via NSF Department of Materials Science and Engineering (Penn) NSF-DMR-FMRG-2134715; NSF-DMR-2407300 / Division of Materials Research; National Science Foundation (NSF); NSF - Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001532279600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105024704014
- Other Identifier
- 991022065620404721
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
- Polymer Science