Solid Polymer Electrolytes with Excellent High-Temperature Properties Based on Brush Block Copolymers Having Rigid Side Chains

A series of brush block copolymers (BBCPs) with polynorbornene backbones containing poly{2,5-bis[(4-methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonyl]styrene} (PMPCS, which is a rigid chain) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains were synthesized by tandem ring-opening metathesis polymerizations. The weight fractions of PEO in BBCPs are similar, and the degrees of polymerization (DPs) of PEO side chains are the same while the DPs of PMPCS are different. The bulk self-assembling behaviors were studied by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The neat BBCPs cannot form ordered nanostructures. However, after the doping of lithium salt, the BBCPs self-assemble into lamellar (LAM) structures. When the DPs of the PEO and PMPCS side chains are similar, the LAM structure is more ordered, which is attributed to the more flat interface between PMPCS and PEO phases. The ionic conductivity (σ) values of the BBCP/lithium salt complex with the most ordered LAM structure at different temperatures were measured. The σ value increases with increasing temperature in the range of 40-200 °C, and the relationship between σ and T fits the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) equation. The σ value at 200 °C is 1.58 × 10^-3 S/cm, which is one of the highest values for PEO-based polymer electrolytes. These materials with high σ values at high temperatures may be used in high-temperature lithium ion batteries.