Novel network polymer electrolytes based on polysiloxane with internal plasticizer

A novel network polymer electrolyte based on the polymethylsiloxane system has been designed and synthesized. In the network polymers, different numbe rs of PEG chains with various molecular weights were introduced onto the ne tworks as immobile internal plasticizer through a hydrosilylation reaction. The presence of internal plasticizers pendant on the network backbones can lower the glass transition temperatures (T-g) of the electrolytes, make th e lithium salt easily dissolved and accelerate the migration of free lithiu m ions migration. The ambient ionic conductivity (sigma(RT)) was significan tly enhanced compared with that of network polymer electrolytes without int ernal plasticizers. The optimum ionic conductivity was 10(-4.1) S cm(-1) at room temperature and 10(-3.0) S cm(-1) at 80 degrees C. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.