Organic Ionic Plastic Crystals as Solid-State Electrolytes

This review surveys many new OIPC cation/anion chemistries, as well as their emerging applications in electrochemical devices, including lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells. Recent advances in experimental techniques and simulation capabilities are highlighted, which allowed visualization of local molecular structure and rotational/translational motion. In particular, structural heterogeneity or defects in OIPCs are found to play a critical role in initiating and facilitating ion transport. Protic OIPCs have recently emerged as promising solid-state proton conductors, and the proton transport mechanisms in the neat and acid/base-doped OIPCs are discussed. A few archetypal medium-temperature (100–200°C) fuel cells based on the protic OIPCs have been demonstrated. The development of safe and reliable energy conversion and storage technologies is an urgent global challenge central to mitigating our dependence on fossil fuels. Key to many emerging electrochemical technologies is the need for a safe and stable electrolyte that enables high device efficiency. Organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPC) are an emerging class of solid-state electrolytes with significant advantages over conventional materials, including plasticity, nonflammability, and high ionic conductivity. Recent advances in this evolving field include increasingly efficient lithium-ion batteries and dye-sensitized solar cells, and the first application of OIPCs in sodium-ion batteries. In this review, we highlight these advances and discuss recent fundamental developments such as structure–property relationships and conduction mechanisms in both protic and aprotic OIPCs. The development of safe and reliable energy conversion and storage technologies is an urgent global challenge central to mitigating our dependence on fossil fuels. Key to many emerging electrochemical technologies is the need for a safe and stable electrolyte that enables high device efficiency. Organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPC) are an emerging class of solid-state electrolytes with significant advantages over conventional materials, including plasticity, nonflammability, and high ionic conductivity. Recent advances in this evolving field include increasingly efficient lithium-ion batteries and dye-sensitized solar cells, and the first application of OIPCs in sodium-ion batteries. In this review, we highlight these advances and discuss recent fundamental developments such as structure–property relationships and conduction mechanisms in both protic and aprotic OIPCs. molecules without labile protons. the electronic shielding environment of a 13C nuclei is often nonspherical. Therefore, the chemical shift is orientation dependent and can be described by a second-rank (3 × 3) tensor. the entropy change upon melting, given by the enthalpy of fusion divided by the melting point. liquid salts consisting of ions and/or short-lived ion pairs. a short, timed pulse with spatial-dependent field intensity. molecules containing one or more labile protons. a method of proton transport where protons move through a relatively static background through continuous breakage and formation of hydrogen bonds.