UV cross-linked, lithium-conducting ternary polymer electrolytes containing ionic liquids

In this manuscript is reported an attempt to prepare high ionic conductivity lithium polymer electrolytes by UV cross-linking the poly(ethyleneoxide) (briefly called PEO) polymer matrix in presence of the plasticizing lithium salt, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and an ionic liquid of the pyrrolidinium family (N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium TFSI) having a common anion with the lithium salt. It is demonstrated that polymer electrolytes with room temperature ionic conductivities of nearly 10−3 S cm−1 could be obtained as a result of the reduced crystallinity of the ternary electrolytes. The results clearly indicate that the cross-linked ternary electrolyte shows superior mechanical properties with respect to the non-cross-linked electrolytes and higher conductivities with respect to polymer electrolytes containing none or less ionic liquid.