Synthesis and application as polymer electrolyte of hyperbranched polyether made by cationic ring-opening polymerization of 3-{2-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxymethyl}-3′-methyl-oxetane

Photopatternable electrochromic materials from oxetane precursors

Conjugated thiophenoazomethine triads containing an acid sensitive oxetane group were prepared. The solution processable monomers were immobilized on glass and ITO coated glass substrates by photoacid induced cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of the oxetane moiety. Photolithography using a photoacid generator and photosensitizer were used to pattern an electroactive polymer. Micro- and macroscale patterns ranging between 20 μm and 50 mm were possible with the electrochromic materials. The photopolymerized azomethine remained electroactive, and it could be repeatedly switched electrochemically between its neutral (mauve, λmax=535 nm) and oxidized (blue, λmax=585 nm) states without degradation. The electrochromic properties were evaluated in a simulated device where the colors were successfully cycled between blue (oxidized) and purple (neutral) states with applied biases of +0.6 V and -0.6 V vs Fc/Fc+ under ambient conditions without significant color fatigue or degradation.

Synthesis and properties of organic/inorganic hybrid branched-graft copolymers and their application to solid-state electrolytes for high-temperature lithium-ion batteries

A series of organic/inorganic hybrid branched-graft copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized via RAFT polymerization for application to solid polymer electrolyte materials in high-temperature lithium-ion batteries.