Double gyroid-structured electrolyte based on an azobenzene-containing monomer and its polymer

Soft Matter. 2024 Aug 14;20(32):6424-6430. doi: 10.1039/d4sm00551a.

Abstract

The self-assembled structure has a significant impact on the performance of ion conductors. We prepared a new type of electrolyte with self-assembled structures from an azobenzene-based liquid crystalline (LC) monomer and its corresponding polymer. By doping different amounts of monomers and lithium salt LiTFSI, the self-assembled nanostructure of the electrolyte was changed from lamellae to double gyroid. The ionic conductivity of the azobenzene-based electrolytes with the double gyroid structure was 1.64 × 10-4 S cm-1, higher than most PEO-based polymer electrolytes. The azobenzene-based system provides a new strategy to design solid electrolytes with self-assembled structures that may be potentially used in solid-state lithium-ion batteries.