Tunable Conformal Electrodeposition of Ultra-Thin Polymeric Films for Electrolyte Interphases
Authors: Wang Wenlu , Resing Anton B , Zheng Zhaoyi , Brown Keith A , Werner Joerg G 
Published: September 2023

Functional coatings and interphases influence the stability and performance parameters of electrodes in various applications. Polymer thin films offer a wide range of molecular structures and compositions for tunable functionalities that can be custom designed to the needs of an application. In solid-state energy storage devices in particular, electrolyte-type polymeric interfaces between battery components and materials with disparate functions, such as the active electrode material and solid electrolyte could overcome some of these incompatibility detriments and the increase in contact resistance over long-term operation. In high-performance micro scale power sources, 3D thin-film all-solid-state batteries show great potential as they take advantage of both short ion diffusion distances for high-rate capability with low heat generation, as well as the third dimension for high material loading and energy density. Therefore, conformal deposition methods for ultra-thin polymeric electrolyte interphases on the interior surface of electrodes with mesoscale 3D architectures and complex porosity are in demand.

Here, we report a molecular design concept of dual-functional molecules that contain electrochemically active end groups for self-limiting electropolymerization, and a core molecular motif that determines the thin film functionality. The electrodeposition of this monomer represents a non-line-of-sight coating method for polymer thin films with independently tailorable functionalities and tunable properties on conductive substrates with arbitrary shape.

We exemplify this method using monomers with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the core motif for lithium-ion transport and phenol as electrochemically active end groups. We studied the electrodeposition of the monomers, poly(ethylene glycol) diphenol (PEGDP), and demonstrate their self-limiting film formation mechanism (Figure 1a) which originates from the insulating nature of resulting poly(PEGDP) film that confines the charge transfer reaction. We present an exhaustive exploration of their material-processing-structure-property relationships that reveals the multi-scale control over the ultrathin-film properties. For example, the uniform film thickness is tunable from 10 to 100s of nanometer through electrodeposition conditions and molecular design, while their molecular permeability and electronic resistance can be tailored from pervious to fully blocking. We show that the electrodeposited functional interphases fully coat complex 3D electrode architectures (Figure 1b top: uncoated carbon electrode, bottom: film coated carbon electrode) with retention of their functionality in a battery. This work demonstrates that rational molecular design enables the conformal electrodeposition of ultrathin functional coatings with solid polymer electrolyte properties on 3D structured electrodes that will enable designer interphases in various solid-state battery architectures and chemistries.

Figure 1