A new concept and application of smart materials is presented, which provides the ability to control electrolyte properties, such as ionic strength and conductivity, with temperature. Copolymers are prepared using N-isopropylacrylamide, which governs the thermal properties, and acrylic acid, to supply the electrolyte ions. At temperatures above 32 �C, the polymer undergoes a thermally-activated phase transition in aqueous solutions, in which the local environment around the acid groups is reversibly switched, thereby decreasing the ionic strength and conductivity of the electrolyte. As a demonstration of concept, the polymer electrolytes are used to reversibly activate and deactivate the electrochemical activity of redox electrodes by simply changing the solution temperature. This approach provides a novel, reversible approach to thermal control in batteries, and further development will lead to tremendous opportunities in electrical energy storage.

Reversible control of electrochemical properties using thermally-responsive polymer electrolytes

244th National Meeting (2012)

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