15 Jul Carbonate-Based Monomers and Polymers for Solid-State Batteries

For several years, the teams at SPECIFIC POLYMERS have been actively involved in R&D focused on designing polymer electrolytes for next-generation all-solid-state batteries. Leveraging our strong expertise in organic and polymer chemistry, we have developed a range of single-ion monomers and polymers that demonstrate strong potential in this field. You can discover more in this article.

Our efforts have gone even further in recent years, with a particular focus on ion-conducting polymers for battery electrolytes. This has led to significant progress in carbonate chemistry, resulting in the development of two new product ranges : Cyclocarbonate-Functional Acrylic Monomers and (Photo)curable polycarbonates for electrolyte materials:

Cyclocarbonate-Functional Acrylic Monomers

Cyclocarbonates such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC), are well-established as electrolyte solvents in lithium-ion batteries, thanks to their high dielectric constant and their excellent salt solvation. Our cyclocarbonate-functional acrylic monomers allow to translate solvent-like ion coordination into polymerizable frameworks, ideal to develop solid or gel polymer electrolytes. These monomers promote lithium salt dissociation and enhance ionic conductivity. Their acrylic functionality enables UV-curing, copolymerization, or thermal crosslinking, making them highly versatile for synthesis, coatings, and electrolyte formulations.

Application : Polymer electrolytes for solid-state batteries ; Ion-conductive binders

(Photo)curable polycarbonates for electrolyte materials

As the battery industry moves toward solid-state and high-voltage platforms, curable polycarbonates provide an innovative pathway to next-generation electrolytes – without the flammability and volatility of traditional carbonate solvents. While PEO-based electrolytes suffer from limited voltage stability and crystallization issues, polycarbonates are tunable materials which deliver a superior electrochemical stability compatible with high-voltage cathodes. We now offer a new line of (photo)curable polycarbonates designed for advanced lithium battery applications. These materials incorporate carbonate linkages combined with UV- or thermally-curable end groups for easy solvent-free processing into films, coatings or solid-state matrices. These products enhance electrochemical stability and feature low viscosity along with crosslinkable groups, enabling solvent-free processing to produce stable solid films.

Moreover, our product range allows you to tailor chain flexibility to optimize ionic mobility. For example, poly(hexamethylene carbonate), α,ω-bis(acrylate) (SP-9P-7-001) and poly(hexamethylene carbonate-co-pentamethylene carbonate), α,ω-bis(acrylate) (SP-9P-7-003) are amorphous polymers that remain highly flexible after curing, even without plasticizers. In contrast, poly(hexamethylene carbonate-co-caprolactone), α,ω-bis(acrylate) (SP-9P-7-002) contains PCL segments that introduce crystallinity, resulting in a more rigid final material after curing.

Beyond Products: Partnering in Your R&D activities

Beyond our product offerings, we are committed to support our customers throughout their research and development activities. We provide comprehensive assistance to help integrate our materials into your research pipeline. This includes formulation guidance tailored to your application needs, detailed technical datasheets, and custom synthesis services to develop most relevant solutions. Our goal is to ensure that our expertise becomes a valuable extension of your innovation process.