Polymerized, crosslinked electrolyte for an electrochemical cell

Abstract

A method of making an alkali polymer electrolyte in-situ is provided. The method includes combining at least one monomer component, an alkali-containing salt, a crosslinker, and an initiator to obtain a precursor mixture. The method further includes applying energy to the precursor mixture to form a crosslinked polymer. The step of applying energy is performed in-situ in an electrochemical cell, and the crosslinked polymer is formed directly on an electrode in the electrochemical cell. The alkali may be lithium or sodium. The at least one monomer component may include an acrylate-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide compound, an acrylate-(fluorosulfonyl)imide compound, a methacrylate-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide compound, a methacrylate-(fluorosulfonyl)imide compound, a vinyl-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide compound, a vinyl-(fluorosulfonyl)imide compound, a vinyl compound, a styrene-(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide compound, and/or a styrene-(fluorosulfonyl)imide compound. The crosslinker may be a diacrylate compound, triacrylate compound, or tetraacrylate compound. The energy may be in the form of heat or ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.