PEO as a polymer electrolyte

As the world transitions towards sustainable energy solutions, advancements in battery technology have become a focal point. Among these innovations, solid-state batteries stand out due to their enhanced safety, efficiency, and longevity compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. At the core of this promising technology lies polymer electrolytes, and among them, polyethylene oxide (PEO) emerges as a groundbreaking material.

During the fall semester of my third year in Chemical Engineering, I worked on two comprehensive projects as part of the courses Chemical Technologies and Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering.

In the Chemical Technologies course, I gained a chemical engineering perspective on the production processes of various chemical products. On the other hand, the Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering course provided me with the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of polymer science, a field not typically included in our curriculum but highly significant. Given my commitment to working on rechargeable battery technologies, I sought to align my semester projects in both courses with this area of interest.

After careful consideration, I decided to focus on solid-state batteries, often regarded as the future of energy storage, and more specifically, on the polymer electrolytes that define these batteries’ “solid-state” nature. This led to the development of two projects under the title: “PEO as a Polymer Electrolyte.”

For the Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering project, I formed a team consisting of three materials science students and myself. Meanwhile, for the Chemical Technologies project, our team was comprised of four chemical engineering students, one bioengineer, and myself. Each project had distinct expectations: while the polymer course required me to focus primarily on the chemistry of polymers, the chemical technologies course demanded a more comprehensive approach, emphasizing the entire production process of polymer electrolytes, from raw materials to the final product, as expected from a chemical engineering student.

In both projects, I took on the team leader role, managing almost every aspect of the research and execution. This included selecting the topic, defining the scope of the research, delegating tasks, and organizing meetings and schedules. Beyond group meetings, I also held one-on-one discussions with team members to address any gaps and ensure every detail was covered.

Interestingly, the professors for both courses typically assigned project topics to students. However, I proactively selected my own topic before the topics were distributed and sought approval from the instructors. The decision to explore polymer electrolytes—a niche and challenging field with limited open-access resources—was ambitious, especially given that it was my first exposure to polymer science. Preparing two separate projects tailored to the unique expectations of both courses was undeniably demanding but immensely rewarding.

To summarize the preparation process for both projects, I began by organizing meetings with both teams to establish a clear plan. For the Introduction to Polymer Science and Engineering project, I divided the work into four main sections:

1. The Chemistry of Polymer Electrolytes: Definitions, types, and mechanisms.
2. Production Processes and Methods: Exploring techniques for synthesizing polymer electrolytes.
3. Characterization Techniques: Methods used to analyze the properties of polymer electrolytes.
4. Applications, Environmental and Economic Impacts, and Future Perspectives: Exploring the broader implications and potential of polymer electrolytes.

In this course, we were not required to prepare a formal report. Instead, the deliverable was a 20-minute presentation accompanied by slides, which made the project more concise but equally challenging in its own way.

The Chemical Technologies project, however, was significantly more demanding. It required a comprehensive and original study, including both a detailed report and a presentation. Defining the structure and scope of this project took considerable effort, and I consulted with three professors, particularly Professor Ebru Erünal Üsdün, to refine the project’s focus. After extensive discussions, we finalized the following main sections for the report:

1. Introduction: Defining polymer electrolytes.
2. Chemistry of Polymer Electrolytes: Exploring the ionic conduction mechanism of PEO.
3. Production Process: This section was further divided into three subtopics:
   • Ethylene Oxide Production: The process of synthesizing the raw material.
   • Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide: Producing PEO using anionic polymerization.
   • PEO Thin Film Preparation: Using techniques such as dip-coating to create films suitable for applications.
4. Applications and Conclusion: Highlighting the practical uses of PEO and summarizing the findings.

Both projects provided valuable insights and allowed us to present our findings effectively, meeting the specific requirements of each course. While the polymer project emphasized the chemistry behind polymer electrolytes, the chemical technologies project required a more engineering-oriented approach, integrating production processes and practical applications.

The PowerPoint slide for Chemical Technologies course project:

We conducted the presentations for both courses one week apart. For the Chemical Technologies course, I shared my 6-minute segment of the presentation on my YouTube account, which you can access via the link provided below. Additionally, I’ve attached the slide decks for both projects and the project report for the Chemical Technologies project for your review.

I’d like to emphasize that this journey is just the beginning for me as a 3rd-year Chemical Engineering student. I am still in the process of taking many of the core courses in my program. With this in mind, I would greatly appreciate constructive feedback on my work and insights into areas where I could improve.

Below are the academic papers I referenced during my research. I’ll be adding these links to my website:

1. Polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries: A critical study
2. Polymer Electrolytes for Lithium-Based Batteries: Advances and Prospects
3. Solid polymer electrolytes for sustainable energy storage
4. Novel insights into polymer electrolytes
5. Polymer electrolytes for energy storage: Challenges and opportunities
6. Polymer Electrolytes for Advanced Applications
7. Polymer electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries
8. Applications of Polymer Electrolytes in Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Review

Thank you for taking the time to review my work, and I look forward to your valuable suggestions!