Fast cure gel polymer electrolytes

1. A composition for forming a fast-cure gel polymer electrolyte comprising:

an oligo(alkylene glycol) silane or an oligo(alkylene glycol) siloxane;

a cross-linking agent that is:

wherein q is an integer from 4 to 35;

a second cross-linking agent that is a compound of Formula VII, VIII, or X:

H 2 C═CH—CH 2 —O—(CH 2 CH 2 O) p —CH 2 CH═CH 2   Formula X

wherein:

n and m are integers, and where sum of n and m is from 10 to 500;

p is an integer from 2 to 20; and

the ratio of n/m is from 1:4 to 1:200;

a salt;

a cross-linking initiator;

an initiator promoter; and

an electrode stabilizing additive.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oligo(alkylene glycol) silane is an oligo(ethylene glycol) silane, oligo(propylene glycol) silane, or oligo(butylene glycol) silane.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oligo(alkylene)glycol siloxane is an oligo(ethylene glycol) siloxane, oligo(propylene glycol) siloxane, or oligo(butylene glycol) siloxane.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oligo(alkylene glycol) silane is a compound of Formula I:

SiR 1 4-x-y R 2 x R 3 y   Formula I

wherein:

each R 1 is individually an alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, alk(poly)enyl group, alk(poly)ynyl group, or aryl group;

each R 2 is individually a group of Group I or Group II;

each R 3 is individually a group of Group I or Group III;

x is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

y is 0, 1, 2, or 3;

the sum of x and y is greater than or equal to one;

each R 4 is individually a bond or a divalent spacer;

each R 5 and R 6 are individually hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl;

each R 7 is individually alkyl or aryl;

R 8 is a divalent organic spacer;

f is 1 or 2;

n is an integer from 0 to 15;

p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

q is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein R 8 is a divalent spacer that is a alkylene, alkylene glycol, or bivalent ether group.

6. The composition of claim 4 , wherein x is one and y is zero.

7. The composition of claim 4 , wherein R 2 is a group of Group I; and R 4 is a bond.

8. The composition of claim 4 , wherein R 4 is other than a bond.

9. The composition of claim 4 , wherein x is one; y is zero; R 2 is a moiety that is Group I; and R 4 is a bond.

10. The composition of claim 4 , wherein x is one; y is zero; R 2 is a moiety that is Group I; and R 4 is other than a bond.

11. The composition of claim 4 , wherein the compound of Formula I is:

each n is individually an integer from 1 to 15; and

each n′ is individually 1, 2, or 3.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oligo(alkylene glycol)siloxane is a disiloxane represented by Formula II:

wherein:

R 9 , R 12 , R 11 , and R 14 are individually an alkyl group or an aryl group; and

each of R 10 and R 13 are individually an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a group of Group I, Group II, or Group III;

each R 4 is individually a bond or a divalent spacer;

each R 5 and R 6 are individually hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl;

each R 7 is individually alkyl or aryl;

R 8 is a divalent organic spacer;

f is 1 or 2;

n is an integer from 0 to 15;

p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

q is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the compound of Formula II is:

each R 15 and R 16 are individually an alkyl group or an aryl group;

each R 17 is a bond or a divalent spacer;

each R 18 is individually a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group;

each R 19 is individually an alkyl group;

each R 20 is individually an alkyl or an aryl group;

n is an integer from 1 to 15; and

n″ is an integer from 1 to 30.

14. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the oligo(alkylene glycol)siloxane is a trisiloxane of Formula IV:

wherein:

R 21 , R 22 , and R 23 are individually an alkyl group or an aryl group; and R 24 is selected from Group I, Group II, or Group III;

each R 4 is individually a bond or a divalent spacer;

each R 5 and R 6 are individually hydrogen, alkyl, or aryl;

each R 7 is individually alkyl or aryl;

R 8 is a divalent organic spacer;

f is 1 or 2;

n is an integer from 0 to 15;

p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

q is 0, 1, 2, or 3.

15. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a carbonate-based solvent.

16. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a silicon-containing compound having a carbonate group that is:

or a mixture of any two or more thereof.

17. A method of forming a gel polymer electrolyte comprising:

heating the composition of claim 1 to an elevated temperature;

holding at the composition at the elevated temperature for a specified time; and

cooling the composition to ambient temperature.

18. An electrochemical cell comprising the composition of claim 1 and an electrode.

19. A method of assembling an electrochemical cell comprising:

coating the surface of a positive electrode laminate and a negative electrode laminate with the composition of claim 1 ;

heating the positive and negative electrodes;

stacking the positive electrode and the negative electrode to form the electrochemical cell;

winding or folding the electrochemical cell to prepare a spiral wound cell or prismatic cell; and

packaging the spiral wound or prismatic electrochemical cell in a metal can, a plastic pouch, or a laminated plastic/metal foil pouch.

20. A composition for forming a fast-cure gel polymer electrolyte comprising:

an oligo(alkylene glycol) silane or an oligo(alkylene glycol) siloxane;

a cross-linking agent that is:

wherein q is an integer from 4 to 35;

a second cross-linking agent and a cross-linking density controller, wherein the second cross-linking agent is a compound of Formula V and the cross-linking density controller is a compound of Formula VI:

wherein:

R 40 , R 41 , R 42 , R 43 , R 44 , R 45 and R 46 are each independently hydrogen, an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms;

X′ is hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl; and

q′ is an integer from 1 to 20;

a salt;

a cross-linking initiator;

an initiator promoter; and

an electrode stabilizing additive.