In lithium ion batteries, the lithium electrode/electrolyte interface is an area of intense chemical activity and can be a source of unwanted reactions leading to unsafe battery conditions.  A new method of stabilizing this interface, by using PEO polymer electrolyte containing a surface blooming additive acting as a surfactant, will be discussed.  Hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant preferentially occupy the polymer surface and align, making crystalline regions.  AFM and IR studies have shown that the hydrocarbon regions are arranged in an �island� configuration with uncovered PEO surrounding the hydrocarbon areas.  However, long term stability studies show that this surface, when in contact with lithium metal, stabilizes the interface.  Interestingly, the addition of surfactant has another beneficial effect of increasing the bulk ionic conduction of the polymer electrolyte. The stabilization of the lithium/polymer electrolyte interface and the increase in ionic conduction will further be studied by using ac impedance spectroscopy, AFM phase imaging and attenuated total reflection IR (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy.  Differential scanning calorimatry has been used to determine the effect that changes in crystallinity upon addition of surfactant have on stability and conduction.  The mechanism for stabilization and increased ionic conduction will be discussed.

Stabilization of the lithium metal/polymer electrolyte interface as a result of a protective molecular layer formed by surface �blooming�

247th National Meeting (2014)

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