Single-ion polymers based on ion-conducting crystalline phases

Recently, single-ion conducting polymers have extensively been studied as future polymer electrolytes owing to the minimized device polarization at a given dc voltage. In this study, we investigate single-ion conducting polymers containing zwitterions. Based on computational calculations, design and synthesis of zwitterion were carried out to modulate intermolecular interactions in single-ion polymers via controlling dipolar orientation of ionic moieties. With balanced Coulombic and dipolar interactions, well-defined ionic crystals were formed within the ionic phases. Particularly, nanoconfinements given by the use of acid-tethred block copolymer matrix were a key to induce the crystallization of ionic moieties. Hierarchical self-assembly of the zwitterion-containing single-ion polymers was further characterized with a focus on the structure-transport relationship.