The Use of an Emulsion Templated Microcellular Poly(dicyclopentadiene-co-norbornene) Membrane as a Separator in Lithium-Ion Batteries

The preparation of open-cell macroporous membranes made by the ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a mixture of norbornene and dicyclopentadiene, and their basic applicability as separators in lithium-ion batteries, is discussed. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements of negative electrodes (graphite) and positive electrodes (LiCoO2) are performed and the results prove the absence of parasitic decomposition reactions within the membrane at high oxidative or reductive potentials. Furthermore, LiCoO2/Li half cell cycling studies of 100 charging/discharging cycles reveal that the newly disclosed separator and conventional commercial polyolefin based separators have similar performance. These results demonstrate that a potential weakness in the newly disclosed separator, namely residual double bonds present in the polymer network, does not limit the use of this material as a separator in lithium-ion batteries.