Development of Disulfide-Based Vitrimers for Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes

Details

Supervisors

Fustin, Charles-André ; Gohy, Jean-François

Faculty

Faculté des sciences

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences chimiques, à finalité spécialisée: chimie de l'industrie

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are essential, they are powering everything from cell phones to electric vehicles. However, The demand for higher energy density and enhanced safety is increasing and lithium-ion batteries are reaching their limits. Lithium-metal batteries have emerged as a promising alternative as they offer significantly higher energy densities. However, these batteries are currently unusable for now due to some issues like lithium dendrite formation and mechanical degradation during cycling. The incorporation of a solid-sate electrolyte with tuned properties could address these issues. The objectives of this master thesis is the development and the characterization of solid polymer electrolyte with vitrimer behavior that enable unique properties such as self-healing. The vitrimer properties are particularly interesting as it can solve the different challenges of lithium metal batteries like crack formation and lithium dendrite growth in solid-state electrolytes. In this master thesis, the synthesis of solid polymer electrolyte using different monomers, cross-linker types and cross-linking densities will be done in order to study and optimize the ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of the synthesized electrolytes.