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

ACS electrochemistry., vol. 2, pp. 1598–1607

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 33098, Germany

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE-1), An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich 52428, Germany

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

2. Caroline Mönich

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

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

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

3. Marten 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 33098, Germany

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE-1), An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich 52428, Germany

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

4. Anne Hockmann

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

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

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

5. Christian Sternemann

   TU Dortmund University

   Affiliation as printed

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

6. Monika Schönhoff corresponding

   University of Münster

   Affiliation as printed

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

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

7. Hans‐Georg Steinrück corresponding Aachen Institute of Physical Chemistry

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Paderborn University · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

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

   Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute for a sustainable Hydrogen Economy (IHE-1), An der Deutschen Welle 7a, Jülich 52428, Germany

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