Modular Platform for Synthesis of Poly(Ionic Liquid) Electrolytes for Electrochemical Applications in Supercapacitors

Pyrrolidinium based poly(ionic liquids) (PIL) are successfully obtained and characterized. Special attention is paid to the detailed characterization of the polymer products to determine their molecular-mass characteristics and to establish the composition-property relationship when selecting polymer electrolytes suitable for electrochemical tests. Characterization is performed using: chromatographic methods-combined gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with triple detection-refractometry, UV and laser light scattering; spectroscopy methods-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton (1H) NMR spectroscopy; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and TGA/gas chromatography (GC)/mass selective detection (MSD). Supercapacitors based on commercial activated carbon, with electrolyte containing PIL dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) have been developed and preliminary charge/discharge galvanostatic tests in a two-electrode supercapacitor cell as well as an assessment of electrodes material and its stability in the polymeric ionic electrolyte were conducted. The PIL supercapacitor demonstrates stable capacitance characteristics and is promising for further studies in this direction.

Automated summary

Pyrrolidinium based poly(ionic liquids) have been successfully obtained and characterized, with a focus on establishing the composition-property relationship for selecting suitable polymer electrolytes for electrochemical tests. The polymer products were characterized using various methods, and the supercapacitors based on these PIL showed stable capacitance characteristics, indicating promising potential for further research in this direction.