Ionically Conductive Polymers: Application to Solid State Batteries

The use of polymeric ionically conducting electrolyte materials in the fabrication of solid state batteries was proposed approximately ten years ago. Subsequently, a large number of groups have investigated a variety of polymer electrolytes, such as the polyethylene oxide complexes of various lithium salts. Independent efforts were concurrently expended on polymer electrodes, such as polyacetylene, for batteries. The feasibility of batteries of either type has been tested in a variety of research cells, and in some prototype hardware of practical size. Nonetheless, there are at present no commercially available polymer batteries of either type. A stable battery design with the ability to store and to deliver energy efficiently and economically is the prime objective of the development programs in polymeric batteries. Keywords Energy storage.