Phase Morphology Dependence of Ionic Conductivity and Oxidative Stability in Fluorinated Ether Solid-State Electrolytes.

Solid-state polymer electrolytes can enable the safe operation of high energy density lithium metal batteries; unfortunately, they have low ionic conductivity and poor redox stability at electrode interfaces. Fluorinated ether polymer electrolytes are a promising approach because the ether units can solvate and conduct ions, while the fluorinated moieties can increase oxidative stability. However, current perfluoropolyether (PFPE) electrolytes exhibit deficient lithium-ion coordination and ion transport. Here, we incorporate cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units within the PFPE matrix and increase the polymer blend electrolyte conductivity by 6 orders of magnitude as compared to pure PFPE at 60 °C from 1.55 × 10-11 to 2.26 × 10-5 S/cm. Blending varying ratios of PEG and PFPE induces microscale phase separation, and we show the impact of morphology on ion solvation and dynamics in the electrolyte. Spectroscopy and simulations show weak ion-PFPE interactions, which promote salt phase segregation into-and ion transport within-the PEG domain. These polymer electrolytes show promise for use in high-voltage lithium metal batteries with improved Li|Li cycling due to enhanced mechanical properties and high-voltage stability beyond 6 V versus Li/Li+. Our work provides insights into transport and stability in fluorinated polymer electrolytes for next-generation batteries.

Effect of Building Block Connectivity and Ion Solvation on Electrochemical Stability and Ionic Conductivity in Novel Fluoroether Electrolytes.

Novel electrolytes are required for the commercialization of batteries with high energy densities such as lithium metal batteries. Recently, fluoroether solvents have become promising electrolyte candidates because they yield appreciable ionic conductivities, high oxidative stability, and enable high Coulombic efficiencies for lithium metal cycling. However, reported fluoroether electrolytes have similar molecular structures, and the influence of ion solvation in modifying electrolyte properties has not been elucidated. In this work, we synthesize a group of fluoroether compounds with reversed building block connectivity where ether moieties are sandwiched by fluorinated end groups. These compounds can support ionic conductivities as high as 1.3 mS/cm (30 °C, 1 M salt concentration). Remarkably, we report that the oxidative stability of these electrolytes increases with decreasing fluorine content, a phenomenon not observed in other fluoroethers. Using Raman and other spectroscopic techniques, we show that lithium ion solvation is controlled by fluoroether molecular structure, and the oxidative stability correlates with the "free solvent" fraction. Finally, we show that these electrolytes can be cycled repeatedly with lithium metal and other battery chemistries. Understanding the impact of building block connectivity and ionic solvation structure on electrochemical phenomena will facilitate the development of novel electrolytes for next-generation batteries.

Ion-Conducting Dynamic Solid Polymer Electrolyte Adhesives.

Cross-linked polymer electrolytes containing structurally dynamic disulfide bonds have been synthesized to investigate their combined ion transport and adhesive properties. Dynamic network polymers of varying cross-link densities are synthesized via thiol oxidation of a bisthiol monomer, 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)diethanethiol, and tetrathiol cross-linker, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate). At optimal loading of lithium bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl-imide) (LiTFSI) salt, the ionic conductivities (σ) at 90 °C are about 1 × 10-4 and 1 × 10-5 S/cm at the lowest and highest cross-linking, respectively. Notably, in comparison to the equivalent nondynamic network, the dynamic network shows a positive deviation in σ above 90 °C, which suggests the enhancement of ion transport occurs from the difference in structural relaxation on account of the dissociation of disulfide bonds. Lap shear adhesion and conductivity tests on ITO-coated glass substrates reveal the dynamic network exhibits a higher adhesive shear strength of 0.2 MPa (vs 0.03 MPa for the nondynamic network) and higher σ after the application of external stimulus (UV light or heat). The adhesive strength and σ are stable over multiple debonding/rebonding cycles and, thus, demonstrating the utility of these structurally dynamic networks as solid polymer electrolyte adhesives.

Bisphenol A, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus: genuine concern or unnecessary preoccupation?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous industrial chemical found in a variety of plastic containers intended for food storage and in the epoxy resin linings of metal food and beverage cans, where it is used to prevent corrosion, food contamination, and spoilage. BPA has been linked recently to a wide variety of medical disorders and is known to have estrogenic activity with genomic as well as nongenomic estrogen receptor-mediated effects. Given the rapidly increasing prevalence rates of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, BPA has come under recent intense scrutiny in scientific and lay communities as a potential endocrine-disrupting compound with diabetogenic effects. The purpose of this review is to examine critically the available literature investigating the link between BPA and alterations in metabolic health. Typical levels of exposure to BPA in daily life are discussed, and both epidemiologic human data and mechanistic preclinical studies that have tested associations between BPA and obesity and diabetes are analyzed. Last, current policies and views of national and international regulatory agencies regarding the safety of BPA use are summarized.