Solid-state polymer electrolytes are key components for future batteries with higher energy density as well as increased safety and processability. In this context, a solid polymer electrolyte is developed from statistical copolymers containing flame-retardant phosphonate units and ion-conductive cyclocarbonate moieties mixed with lithium salts. Ionic conductivity measured at room temperature for those copolymers (≈10−5 S cm−1) are in the same range as typical solid polymeric electrolytes not based on poly(ethylene oxide). Moreover, those copolymers electrolytes are stable in a wide electrochemical window (0.5 – 4.5 V vs Li+/Li) and at high temperature (>120 °C) and they lead to a better ionic conductivity than the corresponding homopolymer blends of a similar composition, which is explained by a better lithium salt solubility and better-defined ion-conduction pathways in case of the copolymer. Finally, it has demonstrated the possibility to have fire-retardant properties afforded by phosphonate groups in copolymers without impacting the ionic conductivity.
Notredame, B., Gauthy, F., Finsy, V., & Gohy, J.-F. (2022). Solid Polymer Electrolytes Based on Phosphonate and Cyclocarbonate Units for Safer Full Solid State Lithium Metal Batteries. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 223(20), 2200152. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202200152 (Original work published 2022)