Molecular-level insights into structure and dynamics in ionic liquids and polymer gel electrolytes

Designing new electrolytes requires a better understanding of the correlation between their transport properties and their molecular structure. In this work, we present a detailed study of ionic liquids and polymer gel electrolytes probing their structure and dynamics by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In particular, ammonium- and phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) are combined with different LiTFSI concentrations, and then with different ratios of poly(methylmethacrylate) polymer. The temperature dependence of self-diffusion coefficients of mobile species, DLi+, DTFSI- and DP4441+ or DN4441+, measured by pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR spectroscopy obeys the Arrhenius equation. Diffusivity of [P4441][TFSI] ILs is found to be greater than those of the [N4441][TFSI] ILs in both liquid and gel electrolytes. Solid state NMR experiments including C-13 and F-19 MAS, C-13{F-19},C-13{H-1} CPMAS probe the local structure and molecular-level interactions between ions and polymer in gel electrolytes, particularly for samples with higher PMMA content (>= 25 wt%). Finally, the fast field cycling relaxometry has been used to unveil the rotational and translational dynamics of P4441(+) or N4441(+) and TFSI- by measuring H-1 and (FR1)-F-19 relaxation rate profiles at different temperatures. A comprehensive NMR analysis including relaxation studies at low magnetic field provides decisive new insights regarding the formation of ionic clusters and the interaction of ions with the polymer chain in the case of the gel electrolytes. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Designing new electrolytes requires a better understanding of the correlation between their transport properties and molecular structure. This study utilizes nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to probe the structure and dynamics of ionic liquids and polymer gel electrolytes. Results show that diffusivity of [P4441][TFSI] ILs is greater than [N4441][TFSI] ILs in both liquid and gel electrolytes, and higher PMMA content in samples affects the interaction between ions and polymer.