SULFONATED BLOCK COPOLYMER SEPARATOR AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE

1 . A sulfonated styrenic block copolymer having a general configuration selected from the group consisting of: A-C-B-A, A-C-B-C-A, A-B-C-B-A, (A-C-B) n A, (A-B-C) n A, (A-C-B) n X, (A-B-C) n X and mixtures thereof;

wherein:

n≥2;

X is a residue of a coupling agent;

each block A is a poly(para-alkyl styrene) block having a molecular weight from 1-60 kg/mol;

each block B is a hydrogenated polyisoprene block (E/P) or a hydrogenated polybutadiene block (E/B), each block B has a molecular weight of 1-10 kg/mol; and

each block C is a sulfonated polystyrene block, or a polymer block consisting essentially of sulfonated styrene units and unsubstituted styrene units according to formula (I):

wherein

p is ≥1, j≥1 and k≥0;

M + is selected from the group consisting of: H + , Na + , K + , Li + , Cs + , Ag + , Hg + and Cu + ; and

each block C has a molecular weight of 30-80 kg/mol;

wherein the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer has:

a total molecular weight of 65-115 kg/mol;

an ion exchange capacity of 0.5-3.5 meq/g; and

a glass transition temperature T g of 90-200° C., measured according to ASTM 4065.

2 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein, the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer is a pentablock having a configuration of A-B-C-B-A represented by a structure according to formula (II):

wherein

each x, y, m, n, and p, independently, is ≥1; j≥1 and k≥0;

M + is H + ; and

wherein

each block A is an end block comprising polymerized para-methyl styrene monomer,

wherein R 1 is CH 3 ;

each block B consists of ethylene and butylene or ethylene and propylene units; and

each block C consists of sulfonated styrene units and unsubstituted styrene units.

3 . A film comprising the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 2 , wherein the film is characterized as having at least one of the following properties:

a tensile stress of 6-20 MPa;

a toughness of 3-25 MJ/m 3 ;

a Young's modulus in dry state of 190-1100 MPa; all above measurements according to ASTM D412;

a DMA Modulus at 80° C. of 150-850 MPa, according to ASTM 4065; and

a water vapor transmission rate in an upright manner of 5-20 Kg/m 2 /day, measured at 50° C./10% relative humidity.

4 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer is a pentablock having a configuration of A-B-C-B-A represented by a structure according to formula (III):

wherein

each x, y, m, n, and p, independently, is ≥1; j≥1 and k≥0;

M + is Li + ; and

wherein

each block A is an end block comprising polymerized para-methyl styrene monomer, wherein R 1 is CH 3 ;

each block B consists of ethylene and butylene or ethylene and propylene units; and

each block C consists of sulfonated styrene units and unsubstituted styrene units.

5 . A sulfonated styrenic block copolymer formed by neutralizing the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 2 with 2-35 mol % of an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide.

6 . A membrane formed from the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 5 .

7 . The membrane of claim 6 has an ionic conductivity at 30° C. of >10 −3 S cm −1 as measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

8 . The membrane of claim 6 has an electrolyte uptake at 60° C. of >25% as measured by a weight gain measurement method.

9 . A film comprising the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 .

10 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of block A to block B in the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer ranges from 10:1 to 1:2.

11 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the block C constitutes 40-65 wt. % of the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer.

12 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the poly(para-alkylstyrene) is derived from a para-alkyl styrene monomer selected from the group consisting of: para-methylstyrene, para-ethylstyrene, para-n-propylstyrene, para-iso-propylstyrene, para-n-butylstyrene, para-sec-butylstyrene, para-iso-butylstyrene, para-t-butylstyrene, isomers of para-decylstyrene, isomers of para-dodecylstyrene), and mixtures thereof.

13 . The sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the block B is a hydrogenated polybutadiene block, wherein prior to hydrogenation, a polybutadiene block is derived from a conjugated diene monomer selected from the group consisting of: butadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 1-phenyl-1,3-butadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 3-butyl-1,3-octadiene, and mixtures thereof.

14 . A solid polymer electrolyte for use in an energy storage device, wherein an electrolyte is formed by adding a sufficient amount of liquid electrolyte to the film of claim 9 for a sufficient amount of time for the film to swell at least 10% in volume.

15 . The solid polymer electrolyte of claim 14 , wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent, the lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of LiPF6, LiBF4, LiClO4, LiTFSI, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

16 . A separator for use in an energy storage device, wherein the separator is formed by applying the sulfonated styrenic block copolymer of claim 4 onto a substrate comprising polyolefin, forming a coating;

wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of: modified polyolefins, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, and mixtures thereof; and wherein the substrate has a thickness ranging from 3-100 μm.

17 . The separator of claim 16 , wherein the coating has a thickness of 0.1-25 μm.

18 . An energy storage device comprising the separator of claim 16 .

19 . An energy storage device comprising the film of claim 3 .

20 . The energy storage device of claim 18 , wherein the energy storage device comprises any of a lithium-ion primary battery, a lithium-ion secondary battery, a capacitor, a supercapacitor, a fuel cell, a metal-sulfur battery, or a metal-air battery.