Premium
Lignin‐Based Solid Polymer Electrolytes: Lignin‐Graft‐Poly(ethylene glycol)
Author(s) -
Liu Hailing,
Mulderrig Logan,
Hallinan Daniel,
Chung Hoyong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.202000428
Subject(s) - lignin , ethylene glycol , polymer , peg ratio , polymer chemistry , electrolyte , ionic conductivity , materials science , copolymer , chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , finance , electrode , engineering , economics
Lignin is an aromatic‐rich biomass polymer that is cheap, abundant, and sustainable. However, its application in the solid electrolyte field is rare due to challenges in well‐defined polymer synthesis. Herein, the synthesis of lignin‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and its conductivity test for a solid electrolyte application are demonstrated. The main steps of synthesis include functionalization of natural lignin's hydroxyl to alkene, followed by graft‐copolymerization of PEG thiol to the lignin via photoredox thiol‐ene reaction. Two lignin‐graft‐PEGs are prepared having 22 wt% lignin (lignin‐graft‐PEG 550) and 34 wt% lignin (lignin‐graft‐PEG 2000). Then, new polymer electrolytes for conductivity tests are prepared via addition of lithium bis‐trifluoromethanesulfonimide. The polymer graft electrolytes exhibit ionic conductivity up to 1.4 × 10 −4 S cm −1 at 35 °C. The presence of lignin moderately impacts conductivity at elevated temperature compared to homopolymer PEG. Furthermore, the ionic conductivity of lignin‐graft‐PEG at ambient temperature is significantly higher than homopolymer PEG precedents.