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7748667 
Journal Article 
Ionic liquid crystal with fast ion-conductive tunnels for potential application in solvent-free Li-ion batteries 
Yuan, Fen; Chi, S; Dong, S; Zou, Xin; Lv, S; Bao, L; Wang, J 
2019 
Yes 
Electrochimica Acta
ISSN: 0013-4686 
Elsevier Ltd 
OXFORD 
294 
249-259 
English 
WOS:000451334700030 
Insulated polymer host and lithium salt need to be separately dissolved into organic solvents prior to assembly of lithium batteries, implying a large usage of organic solvents and the consequent disadvantages of poor thermal stability, flammability, and explosibility of the end products. Herein, a new generation of thermotropic ionic liquid crystalline lithium salt (LiBIB) with potential bilayer fast ion-conductive tunnels, having functionalities of both lithium salt and polymer host or electrolyte, is successfully synthesized. Molecular structure, thermal stability, ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and ion-conductive mechanism of the LiBIB are extensively assessed. The obtained LiBIB shows typical behaviors of both ionic liquid and liquid crystal. Melt point at 43 °C, much lower than that of traditional lithium salts like LiClO4 and LiPF6, and clear point of the LiBIB at 83 °C are both detected. Solid LiBIB salt shows better ionic conductivity (3 × 10−3 S cm−1) and electrochemical stability at room temperature in comparison with those of traditional lithium salts. Time-resolved and perturbation-correlation moving window 2D-COR FTIR results indicate that the high ionic conductivity of the LiBIB is mainly originated from the formation of fast ion-conductive tunnels, implying a promising application in solvent-free Li-ion batteries. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd 
Ionic liquid crystal; Fast ion-conductive; Solvent-free; Energy storage; Secondary Li-ion battery