Ternary polymer electrolytes with 1-methylimidazole based ionic liquids and aprotic solvents

New polymer gel electrolytes containing ionic liquids were developed for modern chemical power sources-supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries. Ternary systems polymer-ionic liquid-aprotic solvent as well as materials containing also lithium salts (LiClO4 or LiPF6) were prepared by direct, thermally initiated polymerisation. Poly(2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate) PEOEMA was combined with various ionic liquids based on 1-methylimidazole. Only 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate BMIPF6 formed a homogenous and slightly translucent polymer electrolyte, where aprotic solvents-propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonates were used as plasticisers. Materials were studied using the electrochemical and thermogravimetric methods and exhibit high ionic conductivity up to 0.94 mS cm(-1) at 25 degrees C together with high electrochemical stability: the accessible potential window on the glassy carbon was found ca. 4.3 V. Prepared non-volatile materials are long-term and thermally stable up to 150 degrees C. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.