Poly (Ethylene Oxide)-Based Block Copolymer Electrolytes Formed via Ligand-Free Iron-Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

• Main Authors: Sibo Li, Mengying Tian, Jirong Wang, Feipeng Du, Liang Li, Zhigang Xue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: macroinitiator; atom transfer radical polymerization; ligand-free; PEO; polymer electrolyte
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/4/763

The Br-terminated poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-Br) is used as a green and efficient macroinitiator in bulk Fe-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) without the addition of any organic ligands. The polymerization rate is able to be mediated by PEO-Br with various molecular weights, and the decrease in redox potential of FeBr₂ in cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves indicates that an increased coordination effect is deteriorated with the depressing reaction activity in the longer ethylene oxide (EO) chain in PEO-Br. In combination with the study of different catalysts and catalytic contents, the methyl metharylate (MMA) or poly (ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA) was successfully polymerized with PEO-Br as an initiator. This copolymer obtained from PEGMA polymerization can be further employed as a polymer matrix to form the polymer electrolyte (PE). The higher ionic conductivity of PE was obtained by using a high molecular weight of copolymer.