title: Micellar cathodes from self-assembled nitroxide-containing block copolymers in battery electrolytes.
abstract: This contribution describes the synthesis of block copolymers containing electrochemically active blocks, their micellization, and finally their use as micellar cathodes in a lithium battery. The self-assembly of the synthesized poly(styrene)-block-poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy-4-yl methacrylate) (PS-b-PTMA) diblock copolymers is realized in a typical battery electrolyte made of 1 m lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate/dimethyl carbonate(1:1:1, in volume). Dynamic light scattering and atomic force micro-scopy indicate the formation of well-defined spherical micelles with a PS core and a PTMA corona. The electrochemical properties of those micelles are further investigated. Cyclic voltammograms show a reversible redox reaction at 3.6 V (vs Li(+) /Li). The charge/discharge profiles indicate a flat and reversible plateau around 3.6 V (vs Li(+) /Li). Finally, the cycling performances of the micellar cathodes are demonstrated. Such self-assembled block copolymers open new opportunities for nanostructured organic radical batteries.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter (BSMA), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur, 1, 1348, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hauffman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter (BSMA), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur, 1, 1348, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Quentin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Maguin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter (BSMA), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur, 1, 1348, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.affiliation: Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics (ICTEAM), Université catholique de Louvain, Place de Levant, 3, 1348, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Alexandru
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlad
authors.affiliation: Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences (IMCN), Bio- and Soft Matter (BSMA), Université catholique de Louvain, Place L. Pasteur, 1, 1348, Louvain la Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gohy
mesh_terms: D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008823:Micelles; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000032:analysis*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D008823:Micelles; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Li-ion battery; PTMA; block copolymers; micelles; organic radical battery