Polymer Electrolytes with Abundant Hydrogen Bonding Sites

Coulombic and/or dipolar interactions of polymers with embedded salts offer ion conduction across the polymer chains. Such polymers can be used in a wide range of electrochemical devices such as lithium batteries, fuel cells, and ionic actuators. Key challenges in developing practically viable devices based on polymer electrolytes are high conductivity, mechanical strength, and electrochemical stability. In this study, new polymer electrolytes possessing abundant hydrogen bonding sites for simultaneous achievement of high conductivity and improved mechanical properties. Owing to the high dielectric constant of such polymers, enhanced degree of ion dissociation and high ionic conductivity were obtained. In particular, with added inorganic salts, the hydrogen bonding sites in polymer structure effectively stabilize anion, thereby retarding the anion diffusion. This is connected to improved cation transference number of the resultant polymer electrolytes.