Do Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Chains Orient during Electrochemical Polarization?

ChemRxiv

Abstract

Based on several recent studies, we formulate the hypothesis of polymer chain alignment in LiTFSI/PEO electrolytes upon electrochemical cell polarization. Possible implications include ion transport parameters and interpretation of nonlinear effects in electrophoretic nuclear magnetic resonance. We tested our hypothesis by operando wide-angle X-ray scattering and analysis of the data in the context of Hermans' orientation function. Our results show that cell polarization does not induce significant polymer chain alignment, indicating that LiTFSI/PEO electrolytes maintain their equilibrium structure upon polarization.

Authors 7

1. Andreas Kuhlmann Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Paderborn University · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, Paderborn, Germany, 33098

   Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich, Germany, 52428

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, Aachen, Germany, 52074

2. Caroline Mönich

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Soft Nanoscience, Busso-Peuss-Str. 10, Münster, Germany, 48149

   Institue of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, Münster, Germany, 48149

3. M. Huck Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Paderborn University · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, Paderborn, Germany, 33098

   Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich, Germany, 52428

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, Aachen, Germany, 52074

4. Anne Hockmann

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Soft Nanoscience, Busso-Peuss-Str. 10, Münster, Germany, 48149

   Institue of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, Münster, Germany, 48149

5. Christian Sternemann

   TU Dortmund University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fakultät Physik/DELTA, Maria-Goeppert-Mayer Str. 2, Dortmund, Germany, 44227

6. Monika Schönhoff

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Soft Nanoscience, Busso-Peuss-Str. 10, Münster, Germany, 48149

   Institue of Physical Chemistry, University of Münster, Corrensstraße 28/30, Münster, Germany, 48149

7. Hans‐Georg Steinrück Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Paderborn University · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Chemistry, Paderborn University, Warburger Str. 100, Paderborn, Germany, 33098

   Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich, Germany, 52428

   Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, Aachen, Germany, 52074