Copolymers of ester and ether units, processes for producing same and uses thereof

An electrolyte comprising a polymer and an ionic salt, wherein:

• the polymer comprises at least one ester repeating unit and one ether repeating unit, the polymer being of Formula I:
• wherein:
• x, y, and z are integers each independently selected such that the average molecular weight of the polymer is between 200 g/mol and 5,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 1,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 500,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 100,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 20,000 g/mol, where x≥1 and y+z≥1;
• R1 and R2 are linear or branched substituents each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-21alkyl, C2-22alkenyl, C1-10alkoxyalkyl, C1-10alkyl-(acrylate), and C1-10alkyl-(methacrylate);
• n, m, o, and p are integers, where o is between 1 and 10 and n, m, and p are between 0 and 10;
• and
• A and B are substituted or unsubstituted groups each independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, acetyls, alkoxyls, epoxy-comprising groups, furan-comprising groups, primary amine-comprising groups, maleimide-comprising groups, acrylate-comprising groups, and acid groups;
• and
• the ionic salt is a lithium salt selected from lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), lithium 2-trifluoromethyl-4,5-dicyanoimidazolate (LiTDI), lithium 4,5-dicyano-1,2,3-triazolate (LiDCTA), lithium bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide (LiBETI), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB), lithium nitrate (LiNO3), lithium chloride (LiCl), lithium bromide (LiBr), lithium fluoride (LiF), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF6), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiSO3CF3) (LiTf), lithium fluoroalkylphosphate Li[PF3(CF2CF3)3](LiFAP), lithium tetrakis(trifluoroacetoxy)borate Li[B(OCOCF3)4](LiTFAB), lithium bis(1,2-benzenediolato(2-)-O,O′)borate Li[B(C6O2)2](LBBB), and their combinations.

An electrolyte comprising a polymer and a polar aprotic solvent, wherein:

• the polymer comprises at least one ester repeating unit and one ether repeating unit, the polymer being of Formula I:
• wherein:
• x, y, and z are integers each independently selected such that the average molecular weight of the polymer is between 200 g/mol and 5,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 1,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 500,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 100,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 20,000 g/mol, where x≥1 and y+z≥1;
• R1 and R2 are linear or branched substituents each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-21alkyl, C2-22alkenyl, C1-10alkoxyalkyl, C1-10alkyl-(acrylate), and C1-10alkyl-(methacrylate);
• n, m, o, and p are integers, where o is between 1 and 10 and n, m, and p are between 0 and 10;
• and
• A and B are substituted or unsubstituted groups each independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, acetyls, alkoxyls, epoxy-comprising groups, furan-comprising groups, primary amine-comprising groups, maleimide-comprising groups, acrylate-comprising groups, and acid groups;
• and
• the polar aprotic solvent is selected from ethylene carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC), vinylene carbonate (VC), methyl butyrate (MB), γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL), γ-valerolactone (γ-VL), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,2-diethoxyethane (DEE), 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, formamide, acetamide, dimethylformamide, dioxolane, acetonitrile, propylnitrile, nitromethane, ethylmonoglyme, trimethoxymethane, dioxolane derivatives, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, propylene carbonate derivatives, tetrahydrofuran, and their mixtures.

An electrode material comprising an electrochemically active material and a polymer comprising at least one ester repeating unit and one ether repeating unit, the polymer being of Formula I:

• wherein:
• x, y, and z are integers each independently selected such that the average molecular weight of the polymer is between 200 g/mol and 5,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 1,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 500,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 100,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 20,000 g/mol, where x≥1 and y+z≥1;
• R1 and R2 are linear or branched substituents each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-21alkyl, C2-22alkenyl, C1-10alkoxyalkyl, C1-10alkyl-(acrylate), and C1-10alkyl-(methacrylate);
• n, m, o, and p are integers, where o is between 1 and 10 and n, m, and p are between 0 and 10;
• and
• A and B are substituted or unsubstituted groups each independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, acetyls, alkoxyls, epoxy-comprising groups, furan-comprising groups, primary amine-comprising groups, maleimide-comprising groups, acrylate-comprising groups, and acid groups.

An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the negative electrode, the positive electrode, and the electrolyte comprises a polymer comprising at least one ester repeating unit and one ether repeating unit, the polymer being of Formula I:

• wherein:
• x, y, and z are integers each independently selected such that the average molecular weight of the polymer is between 200 g/mol and 5,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 1,000,000 g/mol, or between 200 g/mol and 500,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 100,000 g/mol, or between 400 g/mol and 20,000 g/mol, where x≥1 and y+z≥1;
• R1 and R2 are linear or branched substituents each independently selected from hydrogen, C1-21alkyl, C2-22alkenyl, C1-10alkoxyalkyl, C1-10alkyl-(acrylate), and C1-10alkyl-(methacrylate);
• n, m, o, and p are integers, where o is between 1 and 10 and n, m, and p are between 0 and 10;
• and
• A and B are substituted or unsubstituted groups each independently selected from alkyls, alkenyls, alkynyls, acetyls, alkoxyls, epoxy-comprising groups, furan-comprising groups, primary amine-comprising groups, maleimide-comprising groups, acrylate-comprising groups, and acid groups.