A crosslinked ``polymer-gel'' rechargeable lithium-ion battery electrolyte from free radical polymerization using nonionic plastic crystalline electrolyte medium

A cross-linked polymer-gel soft matter electrolyte with superior electrochemical, thermal and mechanical properties obtained from free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in a semi-solid organic nonionic plastic crystalline electrolyte for application in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is discussed here.

Second harmonic generation in poled molecularly doped polymer films : Push-pull butadienes in poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene

We report second harmonic generation in a new class of organic materials, namely donor-acceptor substituted all-trans butadienes doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene and oriented by corona poling at elevated temperatures. Second harmonic measurements were made at room temperature. The observed d33 coefficients are greater than those of potassium dihydrogen phosphate or 4-dimethylamino-4'-nitrostilbene doped in similar polymer matrices. Rotational diffusion coefficients estimated from the decay characteristics of the second harmonic intensity in the polymer films indicate that the polymer matrix plays a major role in stabilizing the dopants in a nonlinear optics conducive environment.

Lanthanide Luminescent Coordination Polymer Constructed from Unsymmetrical Dinuclear Building Blocks Based on 4-((1H-Benzod]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic Acid

Lanthanide coordination polymers of the general formula Ln(2)(L)(5)(NO3)(H2O)(4)](n) (Ln = Eu (1), Tb (2), Gd (3)) supported by a novel aromatic carboxylate ligand 4-((1H-benzod]imidazol-1-yl)methyl)benzoic acid (HL) have been synthesized, characterized, and their photoluminescence behavior is examined. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of complexes 1-3 showed that 1-3 are isostructural; thus, 1 has been chosen as an example to discuss in detail about the molecular structure by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a one-dimensional (1D) helical chain-like coordination polymer consisting of unique unsymmetrical dinuclear lanthanide building blocks. The 1D chains are further linked by the significant intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions to form a two-dimensional supramolecular network. The Tb3+ complex exhibits bright green luminescence efficiency in the solid state with a quantum yield of 15%. On the other hand, poor luminescence efficiency has been noted for Eu3+-benzoate complex.

Electro-magnetically Actuated Minute Polymer Pump Fabricated using Packaging Technology

Design, fabrication and preliminary testing of a flat pump with millimetre thickness are described in this paper. The pump is entirely made of polymer materials barring the magnet and copper coils used for electromagnetic actuation. The fabrication is carried out using widely available microelectronic packaging machinery and techniques. Therefore, the fabrication of the pump is straightforward and inexpensive. Two types of prototypes are designed and built. One consists of copper coils that are etched on an epoxy plate and the other has wound insulated wire of 90 mu m diameter to serve as a coil. The overall size of the first pump is 25 mm x 25 mm x 3.6 mm including the 3.1 mm-thick NdFeB magnet of diameter 12 mm. It consists of a pump chamber of 20 mm x 20 mm x 0.8 mm with copper coils etched from a copper-clad epoxy plate using dry-film lithography and milled using a CNC milling machine, two passive valves and the pump-diaphragm made of Kapton film of 0.089 mm thickness. The second pump has an overall size of 35 mm x 35 mm x 4.4 mm including the magnet and the windings. A breadboard circuit and DC power supply are used to test the pump by applying an alternating square-wave voltage pulse. A water slug in a tube attached to the inlet is used to observe and measure the air-flow induced by the pump against atmospheric pressure. The maximum flow rate was found to be 15 ml/min for a voltage of 2.5 V and a current of 19 mA at 68 Hz.

Design and development of a self-supported polymer electrolyte fuel cell system with anodic dead-end operation

Design and operational details for a self-supported polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) system with anodic dead-end fuel supply and internally humidified cathodic oxidant flow are described. During the PEFC operation, nitrogen and water back diffuse across the Nafion membrane from the cathode to the anode and accumulate in the anode flow channels affecting stack performance. The accumulated inert species are flushed from the stack by purging the fuel cell stack with a timer-activated purge valve to address the aforesaid problem. To minimize the system complexity, stack is designed in such a way that all the inert species accumulate in only one cell called the purge cell. A pulsed purge sequence comprises opening the valve for purge duration followed by purge-valve closing for the hold period and repeating the sequence in cycles. Since self-humidification is inadequate to keep the membrane wet, the anodic dead-end-operated PEFC stack with composite membrane comprising perflourosulphonic acid (Nafion) and silica is employed for keeping the membrane humidified even while operating the stack with dry hydrogen and internally humidified air.

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Flapping Actuator Mimicking Dragonflies

In this study, variational principle is used for dynamic modeling of an Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) flapping wing. The IPMC is an Electro-active Polymer (EAP) which is emerging as a useful smart material for `artificial muscle' applications. Dynamic characteristics of IPMC flapping wings having the same size as the actual wings of three different dragonfly species Aeshna Multicolor, Anax Parthenope Julius and Sympetrum Frequens are analyzed using numerical simulations. An unsteady aerodynamic model is used to obtain the aerodynamic forces. A comparative study of the performances of three IPMC flapping wings is conducted. Among the three species, it is found that thrust force produced by the IPMC flapping wing of the same size as Anax Parthenope Julius wing is maximum. Lift force produced by the IPMC wing of the same size as Sympetrum Frequens wing is maximum and the wing is suitable for low speed flight. The numerical results in this paper show that dragonfly inspired IPMC flapping wings are a viable contender for insect scale flapping wing micro air vehicles.

The concentration dependent cooperative friction coefficient of dilute polymer solutions at the theta point

We combine multiple scattering and renormalization group methods to calculate the leading order dimensionless virial coefficient k(s) for the friction coefficient of dilute polymer solutions under conditions where the osmotic second virial coefficient vanishes (i.e., at the theta point T-theta). Our calculations are formulated in terms of coupled kinetic equations for the polymer and solvent, in which the polymers are modeled as continuous chains whose configurations evolve under the action of random forces in, the velocity field of the solvent. To lowest order in epsilon=4-d, we find that k(s) = 1.06. This result compares satisfactorily with existing experimental estimates of k(s), which are in the range 0.7-0.8. It is also in good agreement with other theoretical results on chains and suspensions at T-theta. Our calculated k(s) is also found to be identical to the leading order virial coefficient of the tracer friction coefficient at the theta point. We discuss possible reasons for the difficulties encountered when attempting to evaluate k(s) by extrapolating prior renormalization group calculations from semidilute concentrations to the infinitely dilute limit. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.

Effect of substrate on particle arrangement in arrays formed by self-assembly of polymer grafted nanoparticles

We show that the substrate affects the interparticle spacing in monolayer arrays with hexagonal order formed by self-assembly of polymer grafted nanoparticles. Remarkably, arrays with square packing were formed due to convective shearing at a liquid surface induced by miscibility of colloidal solution with the substrate.

On the water-induced critical double point in a polymer solution: the role of isotopic substitution

This paper examines the effect of substitution of water by heavy water in a polymer solution of polystyrene (molecular weight = 13000) and acetone. A critical double point (CDP), at which the upper and the lower partially-miscible regions merge, occurs at nearly the same coordinates as for the system [polystyrene + acetone + water]. The shape of the critical line for [polystyrene + acetone + heavy water] is highly asymmetric. An explanation for the occurrence of the water-induced CDP in [polystyrene + acetone] is advanced in terms of the interplay between contact energy dissimilarity and free-volume disparity of the polymer and the solvent. The question of the possible existence of a one-phase hole in an hourglass phase diagram is addressed in [polystyrene + acetone + water]. Our data exclude such a possibility.

Polymer collapse in supercritical solvents

We show analytically that in dilute solutions of high molecular weight polymers, a collapse transition of the chain can be induced by proximity to the critical point of the solvent. The transition is driven by the fluctuations in the medium, which lead to an effective attractive interaction of long range between different parts of the polymer. At the critical point itself, however, the chain adopts the same average conformations that characterize its size in the off-critical limit. In other words, on approach to the critical point, the polymer is found first to contract and collapse, and then subsequently to return to its original dimensions. This behavior has recently been observed in simulations of polymer-solvent mixtures near the lower critical solution temperature of the system, and it is also known to be characteristic of solutions of polymers in bicomponent solvent mixtures near the critical consolute point of the two solvents. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(99)50431-5].

Reversibility of Mg/Mg2+ couple in a gel polymer electrolyte

Investigations on solid state rechargeable magnesium batteries are considered important similar to lithium batteries. In view of negligible hazards and less reactivity of the magnesium, in comparison with lithium, studies on rechargeable magnesium batteries are expected to have a wide scope in future. Solid polymer electrolytes, which conduct Mg2+ ions and reversibility of a Mg/Mg2+ couple are essential components of the studies. In the present investigations, the existence of reversibility of a Mg/Mg2+ couple in a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) medium is established for the first time in literature. Results obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry on Mg/GPE/Mg, SS/GPE/SS symmetrical cells show evidence for the reversibility. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Correlated conformation and charge transport in multiwall carbon nanotube-conducting polymer nanocomposites

The strikingly different charge transport behaviours in nanocomposites of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and conducting polymer polyethylenedioxythiophene-polystyrene-sulfonic-acid (PEDOT-PSS) at low temperatures are explained by probing their conformational properties using small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS studies indicate the assembly of elongated PEDOT-PSS globules on the walls of nanotubes, coating them partially, thereby limiting the interaction between the nanotubes in the polymer matrix. This results in a charge transport governed mainly by small polarons in the conducting polymer despite the presence of metallic MWNTs. At T > 4 K, hopping of the charge carriers following one-dimensional variable range hopping is evident which also gives rise to a positive magnetoresistance (MR) with an enhanced localization length (similar to 5 nm) due to the presence of MWNTs. However, at T < 4 K, the observation of an unconventional positive temperature coefficient of resistivity is attributed to small polaron tunnelling. The exceptionally large negative MR observed in this temperature regime is conjectured to be due to the presence of quasi-1D MWNTs that can aid in lowering the tunnelling barrier across the nanotube-polymer boundary resulting in large delocalization.

An improved-performance liquid-feed solid-polymer-electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell operating at near-ambient conditions

Results on the performance of a 25 cm(2) liquid-feed solid-polymer-electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell (SPE-DMFC), operating under near-ambient conditions, are reported. The SPE-DMFC can yield a maximum power density of c. 200 mW cm(-2) at 90 C while operating with 1 M aqueous methanol and oxygen under ambient pressure. While operating the SPE-DMFC under similar conditions with air, a maximum power density of ca. 100 mW cm(-2) is achieved. Analysis of the electrode reaction kinetics parameters on the methanol electrode suggests that the reaction mechanism for methanol oxidation remains invariant with temperature. Durability data on the SPE-DMFC at an operational current density of 100 mA cm(-2) have also been obtained.

Electrochemical studies of polyaniline in a gel polymer electrolyte - High energy and high power characteristics of a solid-state redox supercapacitor

Studies on redox supercapacitors employing electronically conducting polymers are of great importance for hybrid power sources and pulse power applications. In the present study, polyaniline (PANI) has been potentiodynamically deposited on stainless steel substrate and characterized in a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE). Use of the GPE facilitates a voltage limit of the capacitor to 1 V, instead of 0.75 V in aqueous electrolytes. From charge-discharge studies of the solid-state PANI capacitors, a specific capacitance of 250 F g(-1) has been obtained at a specific power of 7.5 kW kg(-1) of PANI. The values of specific capacitance and specific power are considerably higher than those reported in the literature. High energy and high power characteristics of the PANI are presented. (C) 2002 The Electrochemical Society.

Enhanced lithium-ion transport in PEG-based composite polymer electrolyte with Mn0.03Zn0.97Al2O4 nanoparticles

The ion conduction and thermal properties of composite solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) comprising Poly(ethylene) Glycol (PEG, mol wt. 2000), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) and insulating Mn0.03Zn0.97Al2O4 nanoparticle fillers were studied by complex impedance analysis and DSC techniques. The average size of the nanoparticles was determined by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) using Scherrer's equation and was found to be similar to 8 nm. The same was also determined by TEM imaging and found to be similar to 12 nm. The glass transition temperature T, as measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), showed a minimum at 5 mol% of narroparticles. Fractional crystallinity was determined using DSC. NMR was used to deter-mine crystallinity of a pure PEG sample, which was then used as the standard. Fractional crystallinity X. was the lowest for 5 mol% and beyond. The ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolyte containing 5 mol% Mn0.03Zn0.97Al2O4 nanoparticles was found to be 1.82 x 10(-5) S/cm, while for the pristine one, it was 7.27 x 10(-7) S/cm at room temperature. As a function of nanoparticle content, conductivity was observed to go through two maxima, one at around 5 mol% and another shallower one at around 12 mol%. The temperature dependence of conductivity could be divided into two regions, one consistent with Arrhenius behaviour and the other with VTF. We conclude that the enhancement of ionic conductivity on the addition of Mn0.03Zn0.97Al2O4 nanoparticles is a result of reduction in both the T, and the crystallinity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.