Method for preparing composition for use as a polymer electrolyte

Abstract

A process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte is provided which comprises mixing one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, wherein y is from 1.5 to 80 and each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, wherein x is from 1 to 5 and each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, wherein R and R 1 are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group, wherein the mixture is prepared to contain from 1 to 50 wt. % of the one or more polar materials and from 50 to 99 wt. % of the one or more polyesters of formula III. A method for using such polymer electrolytes in cells, batteries, coulometers, displays, and smart windows is also provided.

1 . A process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte which comprises mixing one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein y is from 1.5 to 80 and each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is from 1 to 5 and each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R and R 1  are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group, 
       wherein the mixture is prepared to contain from 1 to 50 wt. % of the one or more polar materials and from 50 to 99 wt. % of the one or more polyesters of formula III. 
     
     
         2 . The process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte of  claim 1  wherein the polyester of formula III is a polyester of carbonic acid and a polyhydric alcohol which is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, wherein the polyester has a weight average molecular weight greater than 30000. 
     
     
         3 . The process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte of  claim 1  wherein the polar material is a salt or a proton conductor system, where the salt is selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, ammonium thiocyanate salts, and triflate, perchlorate, bromide, chloride, iodide, bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide, tetrafluoroborate, trifluoromethanesulphonate, hexafluoroarsenate (V), thiocyanate, acetate, dichlorosulphonimide, fluorochlorosulphonimide, sulphonate and tetrachloroaluminate salts of lithium, sodium, potassium, nickel, zinc, silver, and lanthanides, and where the proton conductor system is selected from phosphoric acid or sulphamide. 
     
     
         4 . The process for preparing a composition for use as a polymer electrolyte of  claim 1  further comprising mixing a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, dimethylsulphoxide, dioctyl phthlate, dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, butyrolactone, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, trimethylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof with the polar material and the polyester of formula (III). 
     
     
         5 . A method of using a polymer electrolyte in a device selected from the group consisting of a cell, a battery, a coulometer, a display, and a smart window, where the polymer electrolyte is comprised one or more polar materials and one or more polyesters of formula III, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein y is from 1.5 to 80 and each unit A may be identical or different and is of the structure IV, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein x is from 1 to 5 and each unit B may be identical or different and is of the structure V, 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R and R 1  are each, independently, hydrogen, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group, 
       wherein the one or more polar materials are present in the composition in an amount of from 1 to 50 wt. % of the composition and the one or more polyesters of formula III are present in the composition in an amount of from 50 to 99 wt. %.