Liquid containing polymer networks as solid electrolytes

Claim 2

A two phase solid polymeric electrolyte comprising a continuous network of crosslinked polyethylene oxide and an ionic conducting phase which includes a metal salt and a dipolar aprotic solvent wherein said polyethylene oxide is crosslinked by reaction with a polyacrylate crosslinking agent in an amount of about 1 to 10 parts crosslinking agent per 100 parts polyethylene oxide and said aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,3-dioxolane, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl ethers of glycols, and glymes, and said salt is a lithium salt, said solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 6.

Claim 3

The solid electrolyte of claim 1 wherein said aprotic solvent is poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether.

Claim 4

A solid state electrochemical cell comprising a lithium metal anode, a cathode of an intercalation compound, and a solid electrolyte, said solid electrolyte being a two phase solid polymeric electrolyte comprising a continuous network of crosslinked polyethylene oxide and an ionic conducting phase which includes a metal salt and a dipolar aprotic solvent wherein said polyethylene oxide is crosslinked by reaction with a polyacrylate crosslinking agent in an amount of about 1 to 10 parts crosslinking agent per 100 parts polyethylene oxide and said aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,3-dioxolane, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl ethers of glycols, and glymes, and said salt is a lithium salt, said solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 6.

Claim 5

A solid state electrochemical cell comprising a lithium metal anode, a cathode of an intercalation compound, and a solid electrolyte, said solid electrolyte being a two phase solid polymeric electrolyte comprising a continuous network of crosslinked polyethylene oxide and an ionic conducting phase which includes a metal salt and a dipolar aprotic solvent wherein said polyethylene oxide is crosslinked by reaction with a polyacrylate crosslinking agent in an amount of about 1 to 10 parts crosslinking agent per 100 parts polyethylene oxide and said aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,3-dioxolane, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl ethers of glycols, and glymes, and said salt is a lithium salt, said solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 6.

Claim 6

The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein said aprotic solvent is a glyme.

Claim 7

The eletrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein said aprotic solvent is poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether.

Claim 8

An electrochemical device comprising first and second electrodes having a solid electrolyte therebetween, said electrolyte being a two phase solid polymeric electrolyte comprising a continuous network of crosslinked polyethylene oxide and an ionic conducting phase which includes a metal salt and a dipolar aprotic solvent wherein said polyethylene oxide is crosslinked by reaction with a polyacrylate crosslinking agent in an amount of about 1 to 10 parts crosslinking agent per 100 parts polyethylene oxide and said aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,3-dioxolane, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl ethers of glycols, and glymes, and said salt is a lithium salt, said solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 6.

Claim 9

An electrochemical device comprising first and second electrodes having a solid electrolyte therebetween, said electrolyte being a two phase solid polymeric electrolyte comprising a continuous network of crosslinked polyethylene oxide and an ionic conducting phase which includes a metal salt and a dipolar aprotic solvent wherein said polyethylene oxide is crosslinked by reaction with a polyacrylate crosslinking agent in an amount of about 1 to 10 parts crosslinking agent per 100 parts polyethylene oxide and said aprotic solvent is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,3-dioxolane, 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl ethers of glycols, and glymes, and said salt is a lithium salt, said solvent having a dielectric constant of at least 6.

Claim 10

The electrochemical device of claim 6 wherein said aprotic solvent is a glyme.

Claim 11

The electrochemical device of claim 6 wherein said aprotic solvent is poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether.