TEMPO-Substituted Poly(ethylene sulfide) for Solid-State Electro-Chemical Charge Storage

A poly(ethylene sulfide) backbone is introduced as the main chain of a radical polymer. Anionic ring-opening polymerization of an episulfide monomer substituted with 2,2,6,6tetramethylpiperidin1oxyl (TEMPO), a robust nitroxide radical, yields the corresponding polythioether. Compared to the traditional poly(ethylene oxide) backbone, the new polymer shows a lower glass transition temperature (-10 degrees C), and about threefold higher solid-state ionic conductivity. The polythioether is also shown to improve the charge/discharge properties of a cathode in solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

Automated summary

A poly(ethylene sulfide) backbone is used as the main chain in a radical polymer, synthesized through anionic ring-opening polymerization of an episulfide monomer with TEMPO. This new polythioether exhibits a lower glass transition temperature and significantly higher solid-state ionic conductivity compared to traditional poly(ethylene oxide) backbones. Additionally, it improves the charge/discharge properties of a cathode in solid-state lithium-ion batteries.