Polymer electrolyte membranes

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) that include co-continuous domains of a conductive phase and a crosslinked network phase. The conductive phase can include one or more polymers having glass transition temperatures below room temperature. The crosslinked network phase can be formed from at least one monofunctional monomer and at least one di- or greater functional monomer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising co-continuous domains of a conductive phase and a crosslinked network phase,
 wherein the conductive phase comprise one or more polymers having glass transition temperatures below room temperature; and   the crosslinked network phase is formed from at least one monofunctional monomer and at least one di- or greater functional monomer.   
     
     
         2 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive phase comprises polyethylene oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 2 , wherein the conductive phase further comprises an ionic component. 
     
     
         4 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 3 , wherein the ionic component comprises 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMITFSI), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMITFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 3 , wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane has a volume fraction of ionic component from 0.0 to 0.5. 
     
     
         6 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinked network phase is formed from a combination of styrene and divinylbenzene. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinked network phase is formed from a combination of acrylonitrile and divinylbenzene. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1  comprising poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PEO-b-P(S-co-DVB). 
     
     
         9 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1  comprising poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylonitrile-co-divinylbenzene) (PEO-b-P(AN-co-DVB). 
     
     
         10 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1  comprising independently from about 15% to about 85% by volume of each of the conductive phase and the crosslinked network phase. 
     
     
         11 . The polymer electrolyte membrane according to  claim 1  comprising from about 20% to about 70% by volume of the conductive phase. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a polymer electrolyte membrane, the method comprising:
 forming a reaction mixture, the reaction mixture comprising macromolecular chain transfer agent, monofunctional monomer, and di- or greater functional monomer; and   forming a polymer electrolyte membrane from the reaction mixture.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising heating the reaction mixture, stirring the reaction mixture, or some combination thereof before the polymer electrolyte membrane is formed. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising adding an ionic component to the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising adding an ionic component to the polymer electrolyte membrane after it is formed from the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising applying the reaction mixture to a surface before the polymer electrolyte membrane is formed from the reaction mixture. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the macromolecular chain transfer agent comprises a polyethylene oxide (PEO) chain transfer agent. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the monofunctional monomer comprises styrene or acrylonitrile and the di- or greater functional monomer comprises divinylbenzene. 
     
     
         19 . A battery cell comprising:
 an anode;   a cathode; and   a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises co-continuous domains of a conductive phase and a crosslinked network phase,
 wherein the conductive phase comprises one or more polymers having glass transition temperatures below room temperature, and an ionic component; and 
 the crosslinked network phase is formed from at least one monofunctional monomer and at least one di- or greater functional monomer. 
   
     
     
         20 . The battery cell according to  claim 19 , wherein the polymer electrolyte membrane comprises poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(styrene-co-divnylbenzene) (PEO-b-P(S-co-DVB) or poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylonitrile-co-divnylbenzene) (PEO-b-P(AN-co-DVB).