High performance cross-linked triblock cationic functionalized polymer for electrochemical applications, methods of making and methods of using
AssigneesColorado School of Mines, University of Massachusetts
InventorsAndrew M. Herring, Mei-Chen Kuo, E. Bryan Coughlin, Nora Buggy, Yifeng Du
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a high performance cross-linked triblock cationic functionalized polymer for electrochemical applications, and methods of making and using the same. The invention also relates to a tunable hydrogenated polymer, that can be functionalized with a particular cation for a particular application, and the method of making the hydrogenated polymer and tuning the hydrogenated polymer for the application.
Claims20
A method of preparing a triblock cationic functionalized polymer, comprising:
- dissolving a first polymer in a solvent, wherein the first polymer comprises a triblock polymer comprising a hydrophobic polymer and two hydrophilic polymers;
- mixing the first polymer in the solvent to produce a hydrogenated triblock polymer;
- evaporating the solvent;
- subjecting the hydrogenated triblock polymer to a cation;
- and
- crosslinking the hydrophobic polymer.
A triblock cationic functionalized polymer, comprising:
- a hydrophobic polymer, wherein the hydrophobic polymer is crosslinked;
- two hydrophilic polymers, wherein at least one of the two hydrophilic polymer is crosslinked;
- and
- a cation.
A method of cross-linking the mid-block of a triblock polymer, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a triblock polymer, wherein a structure of the polymer consists of A-B-A, wherein unit A is hydrophilic and is selected from the group consisting of a halogenated polyvinyl benzyl and a halogenated polymethyl styrene, and wherein unit B is hydrophobic and selected from the group consisting of a polyisoprene, a polycycloctene, a polycycloocadiene, and a polycyclooctatriene;
- b) dissolving the triblock polymer, a photoinitiator and a alkyldithiol in a solvent to form a solution;
- c) adding the solution to a substrate;
- d) evaporating the solvent to make a film on the substrate;
- e) crosslinking at least one double bond of the unit B of the triblock polymer by applying UV radiation to produce a crosslinked triblock A-B-A polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.