Fast ion conductors from polymers.

Complexes of alkali metal salts with various polymers have for sometime been recognized as fast ionic conductors. Lithium complexes of these polymers are of particular interest because of their potential for use as solid electrolytes in rechargeable high energy density batteries. While much research has been done in this area there are, as yet, no commercially used polymer electrolytes. Before useful battery systems can be developed with polymer-salt complexes new materials must be found with the following properties: a) high conductivity at or below room temperature; b) chemical and electrochemical stability of the polymer; c) inertness of the complex at the electrode surfaces; d) polymer complexes with bound anions.