The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

In this study, the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of ion-conductive, cross-linkable polyphosphazenes designed as primary polymer matrices for solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in lithium secondary batteries are reported. Through a simple and efficient chemical modification strategy, functional groups were introduced onto the polyphosphazene backbone to enhance both ionic transport and mechanical integrity. The synthesized materials were processed into fully solid, self-supporting electrolyte films. These thermally stable films exhibited a notable ionic conductivity of ~3.78 × 10⁻⁵ S·cm⁻¹ at 25 °C, a performance attributed to the flexible –P=N– main chain and ion-conductive pendant groups. The findings highlight the promise of polyphosphazene-based SPEs in improving the safety and electrochemical performance of lithium secondary batteries, offering a valuable platform for next-generation energy storage systems.