Entropic Penalty Switches Li+ Solvation Site Formation and Transport Mechanisms in Mixed Polarity Copolymer Electrolytes

Emerging solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) designs for efficient Li-ion (Li⁺) conduction have relied on polarity and mobility contrast to improve conductivity. To further develop this concept, we employ simulations to examine Li⁺ solvation and transport in poly(oligo ethylene methacrylate) (POEM) and its copolymers with poly(glycerol carbonate methacrylate) (PGCMA). We find that Li⁺ is solvated by ether oxygens instead of the highly polar PGCMA, due to lower entropic penalties. The presence of PGCMA promotes single-chain solvation, thereby suppressing interchain Li⁺ hopping. The conductivity difference between random copolymer PGCMA-r-POEM and block copolymer PGCMA-b-POEM is explained in terms of a hybrid solvation site mechanism. With diffuse microscopic interfaces between domains, PGCMA near the POEM contributes to Li⁺transport by forming hybrid solvation sites. The formation of such sites is hindered when PGCMA is locally concentrated. These findings help explain how thermodynamic driving forces govern Li⁺ solvation and transport in mixed SPEs.