Trade‐offs between ion‐conducting and mechanical properties: The case of polyacrylate electrolytes
Guoli Lu,
Yaojian Zhang,
Jianjun Zhang,
Xiaofan Du,
Zhaolin Lv,
Junzhe Du,
Zhiming Zhao,
Yue Tang,
Jingwen Zhao,
Guanglei Cui
Affiliations
Guoli Lu
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Yaojian Zhang
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Jianjun Zhang
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Xiaofan Du
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Zhaolin Lv
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Junzhe Du
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Zhiming Zhao
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Yue Tang
The Biodesign Institute and School of Molecular Sciences Arizona State University Tempe Arizona USA
Jingwen Zhao
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Guanglei Cui
Qingdao Industrial Energy Storage Research Institute, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao People's Republic of China
Abstract Polymer electrolytes (PEs) have been long recognized as the key materials to enable energy‐dense batteries and render flexible energy devices practically viable, owing to their chemical and mechanical reliability. However, much of their promise is yet to be realized. The room‐temperature ion conductivity of existing PEs still falls short of the implementation criterion of 10−4 S cm−1 on the promise of acceptable mechanical properties, thereby precluding their practical application. The twin but inversely related duties of polymers, that is, functioning as both an ion‐conducting medium and a structural backbone, underlie this issue but are less elucidated systematically. The polyacrylate (PA) family is among promising polymer matrices on account of ester polarity, electrode compatibility, chemical tunability, and mechanical durability. The extensive applicability of PA in plasticized gels, dry solids, and emerging composites makes PA‐based PEs representative to illustrate the trade‐off between ion conduction and mechanical strength. We herein seek to outline the stated long‐standing conflict exemplified by PA‐based PEs, focusing on crucial strategies toward balancing and reconciling the two mutually exclusive properties, with the intention of offering designing guidelines for next‐generation PEs.