The use of an emulsion templated microcellular poly(dicyclopentadiene-co-norbornene) membrane as a separator in lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The preparation of open-cell macroporous membranes made by the ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a mixture of norbornene and dicyclopentadiene, and their basic applicability as separators in lithium-ion batteries, is discussed. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements of negative electrodes (graphite) and positive electrodes (LiCoO2 ) are performed and the results prove the absence of parasitic decomposition reactions within the membrane at high oxidative or reductive potentials. Furthermore, LiCoO2 /Li half cell cycling studies of 100 charging/discharging cycles reveal that the newly disclosed separator and conventional commercial polyolefin based separators have similar performance. These results demonstrate that a potential weakness in the newly disclosed separator, namely residual double bonds present in the polymer network, does not limit the use of this material as a separator in lithium-ion batteries.