Lithium ion conducting membranes
A lithium ion conducting membrane and methods of making the same. The membrane includes a polymeric matrix and a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matrix. An inorganic coating deposited in the polymeric matrix.
1. A method of making a hybrid inorganic/organic membrane comprising:
forming an organic polymer framework having a plurality of pores;
binding lithium ions to a plurality of inorganic particles, by electrostatic forces selected from the group consisting of Strong Electrostatic Attraction technique and Incipient Wetness Impregnation technique, forming a plurality of ion-conducting particles; and
integrating the plurality of ion conducting particles into the organic polymer framework, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming an array of columns of inorganic lithium ion conductor in the organic polymer framework;
wherein the hybrid inorganic/organic membrane comprises the plurality of ion conducting particles integrated within the plurality of pores of the organic polymer framework.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein integrating the plurality of ion conducting particles comprises:
forming a slurry comprising the plurality of ion conducting particles; and
applying the slurry to the polymer framework.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein integrating the plurality of ion conducting particles comprises:
forming an aqueous mixture of lithium ion conducting particles suspended in an aqueous solution of a first monomer;
filtering the aqueous mixture through the polymer framework and capturing the lithium ion conducting particles within the polymer matrix;
rinsing a hexane solution of a second monomer, different from the first monomer, through the polymer matrix; and
reacting, by interfacial polymerization, the first monomer and the second monomer to fix the ion conducting particles within the polymer framework and forming a polymer layer on a first side of the membrane.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the polymer layer is a polyamide layer.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first monomer is an amine and the second monomer is an activated carbonyl compound.
6. The method of claim 3 , further wherein the polyamide layer is etched.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the polyamide layer is etched by application of a protease.