HIGH PERFORMANCE ULTRACAPACITORS WITH CARBON NANOMATERIALS AND IONIC LIQUIDS

• US 20080192407A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADA Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ADA Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Wen, Henry, Kent Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/24 characterised by structural features of the materials making up or comprised in the electrodes, e.g. form, surface area or porosity; characterised by the structural features of powders or particles used therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/36 Nanostructures, e.g. nanofibres, nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/56 Solid electrolytes, e.g. gels; Additives therein
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/62 characterised by the solute, e.g. salts, anions or cations therein
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the use of carbon nanotubes and/or electrolyte structures comprising ionic liquids in various electrochemical devices, such as ultracapacitors.

Claims

1. An ultracapacitor, comprising:

(a) first and second electrodes, the first and second oppositely charged electrodes primarily comprising carbon nanotubes; and

(b) an electrolyte material, comprising oppositely charged ions, in contact with first ends of the first and second electrodes, wherein at least most of the first ends of the carbon nanotubes are open to permit the ions to access interior surfaces of the nanotubes, wherein the sizes of the ions are less than interior diameters of the carbon nanotubes.

2. The ultracapacitor of claim 1, wherein longitudinal axes of at least most of the carbon nanotubes are substantially parallel to one another along substantially the entire length of the nanotube and wherein at least most of the carbon nanotubes are carbon nanotubes.

3. The ultracapacitor of claim 1, wherein at least most of the opposing second ends of the carbon nanotubes in the first and second electrodes are open.

4. The ultracapacitor of claim 1, wherein at least most of the carbon nanotubes have lengths of at least about 75 microns, inter-carbon nanotube spacings ranging from about 5 to about 1,000 nm, and diameters ranging from about 0.25 to about 250 nm.

5. The ultracapacitor of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte material comprises an ionic liquid and polymer host in the form of a self-supporting film, wherein the ionic liquid has a melting point of no more than about 100 degrees Celsius, a decomposition temperature of at least about 200 degrees Celsius, a viscosity of no more than about 200 Cp, an ionic conductivity of at least about 0.1 mS/cm, and an electrochemical window of at least about 2 Volts.

6. The ultracapacitor of claim 5, wherein:

(I) the ionic liquid comprises;

(A) at least one cation selected from the group consisting essentially of the following compounds and mixtures thereof;

 

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ of the cationic components are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(i) a hydrogen;

(ii) a halogen;

(iii) a hydroxyl;

(iv) an amine;

(v) a thiol;

(vi) a C₁ to C_2-5 straight-chain, branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(vii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(viii) a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical;

(ix) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical;

(x) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more heteroatoms, such as, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

(xi) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(a′

) a carbonyl;

(b′

) an ester;

(c′

) an amide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(d′

) a sulfonate;

(e′

) a sulfonamide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(xii) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branced aliphatic hydrocarbon radical terminally functionalized by Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiv) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following;

(a″

) a C₂ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(b″

) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH

(c″

) a hydroxyl;

(d″

) an amine;

(e″

) a thiol;

(xv) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

R₉ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c′

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d′

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(xvi) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

C(O)—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_n—

C(O)—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c″

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d″

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(B) at least one anion selected from the group consisting essentially of F⁻

;

Cl⁻

, Br⁻

;

I⁻

;

NO₃⁻

;

N(CN)₂⁻

;

BF₄⁻

;

ClO₄⁻

;

PF₆⁻

;

RSO₃⁻

;

RCOO⁻

;

where R is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, or phenyl group;

(CF₃)₂PF₄⁻

, (CF₃)₃PF₃⁻

, (CF₃)₄PF₂⁻

, (CF₃)₅PF⁻

, (CF₃)₆P⁻

, (CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₂CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂N⁻

, CF₃CF₂(CF₃)₂CO⁻

, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂CH⁻

, (SF₅)₃C⁻

, (CF₃SO₂)₃C⁻

, [O(CF₃)₂C₂(CF₃)₂O]₂PO⁻

, (CF₃(CF₂)₇SO₃⁻

, and mixtures thereof; and

(II) wherein the polymer host is selected from the group consisting essentially of homopolymers and copolymers of polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyvinyls, polyacrylics, polyhalo-olefins, polydienes, polyoxides/esthers/acetals, polysulfides, polyesters/thioesters, polyamides/thioamides, polyurethanes/thiourethanes, polyureas/thioureas, polyimides/thioimides, polyanhydrides/thianhydrides, polycarbonates/thiocarbonates, polyimines, polysiloxanes/silanes, polyphosphazenes, polyketones/thioketones, polysulfones/sulfoxides/sulfonates/sulfoamides, polyphylenes, and mixtures thereof.

7. The ultracapacitor of claim 5, wherein the electrolyte material further comprises an inorganic filler, wherein at least most of the filler particles have a surface area of at least about 10 m²/g, a maximum dimension of about 50 micrometers, and an average pore size of less than about 10 micrometers.

8. An ultracapacitor, comprising:

(a) first and second carbon-based electrodes; and

(b) a solid-phase electrolyte material comprising an ionic liquid and a polymer host, the polymer host forming a self-supporting film comprising the ionic liquid.

9. The ultracapacitor of claim 8, wherein the ionic liquid has a melting point of no more than about 100 degrees Celsius, a decomposition temperature of at least about 200 degrees Celsius, a viscosity of no more than about 200 Cp, an ionic conductivity of at least about 0.1 mS/cm, and an electrochemical window of at least about 2 Volts.

10. The ultracapacitor of claim 9, wherein:

(I) the ionic liquid comprises;

(A) at least one cation selected from the group consisting essentially of the following compounds and mixtures thereof;

 

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ of the cationic components are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(i) a hydrogen;

(ii) a halogen;

(iii) a hydroxyl;

(iv) an amine;

(v) a thiol;

(vi) a C₁ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(vii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(viii) a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical;

(ix) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical;

(x) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more heteroatoms, such as, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

(xi) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(a′

) a carbonyl;

(b′

) an ester;

(c′

) an amide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(d′

) a sulfonate;

(e′

) a sulfonamide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(xii) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical terminally functionalized by Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiv) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following;

(a″

) a C₂ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(b″

) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH

(c″

) a hydroxyl;

(d″

) an amine;

(e″

) a thiol;

(xv) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c′

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d′

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(xvi) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

C(O)—

R₉ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

C(O)—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c″

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d″

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(B) at least one anion selected from the group consisting essentially of F⁻

;

Cl⁻

, Br⁻

;

I⁻

;

NO₃⁻

;

N(CN)₂⁻

;

BF₄⁻

;

ClO₄⁻

;

PF₆⁻

;

RSO₃⁻

;

RCOO⁻

;

where R is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, or phenyl group;

(CF₃)₂PF₄⁻

, (CF₃)₃PF₃⁻

, (CF₃)₄PF₂⁻

, (CF₃)₅PF⁻

, (CF₃)₆P⁻

, (CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₂CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂N—

, CF₃CF₂(CF₃)₂CO⁻

, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂CH⁻

, (SF₅)₃C⁻

, (CF₃SO₂)₃C⁻

, [O(CF₃)₂C₂(CF₃)₂O]₂PO⁻

, (CF₃(CF₂)₇SO₃⁻

, and mixtures thereof; and

(II) wherein the polymer host is selected from the group consisting essentially of homopolymers and copolymers of polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyvinyls, polyacrylics, polyhalo-olefins, polydienes, polyoxides/esthers/acetals, polysulfides, polyesters/thioesters, polyamides/thioamides, polyurethanes/thiourethanes, polyureas/thioureas, polyimides/thioimides, polyanhydrides/thianhydrides, polycarbonates/thiocarbonates, polyimines, polysiloxanes/silanes, polyphosphazenes, polyketones/thioketones, polysulfones/sulfoxides/sulfonates/sulfoamides, polyphylenes, and mixtures thereof.

11. The ultracapacitor of claim 9, wherein the polymer host is selected from the group consisting essentially of homopolymers and copolymers of polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyvinyls, polyacrylics, polyhalo-olefins, polydienes, polyoxides/esthers/acetals, polysulfides, polyesters/thioesters, polyamides/thioamides, polyurethanes/thiourethanes, polyureas/thioureas, polyimides/thioimides, polyanhydrides/thianhydrides, polycarbonates/thiocarbonates, polyimines, polysiloxanes/silanes, polyphosphazenes, polyketones/thioketones, polysulfones/sulfoxides/sulfonates/sulfoamides, polyphylenes, and mixtures thereof.

12. The ultracapacitor of claim 8, wherein the solid-phase electrolyte material comprises a substantially nonconductive, inorganic filler, wherein at least most of the filler particles have a surface area of at least about 10 m²/g, a maximum dimension of about 50 micrometers, and an average pore size of less than about 10 micrometers.

13. The ultracapacitor of claim 8, wherein a molar ratio of ionic liquid to polymer host ranges from about 0.1:

1 to about 10;

1.

14. The ultracapacitor of claim 8, wherein the first and second carbon-based electrodes are primarily comprised of carbon nanotubes, wherein at least most of the first ends of the carbon nanotubes are open to permit the ions to access interior surfaces of the nanotubes, and wherein the sizes of the cations and anions in the ionic liquid are less than interior diameters of the carbon nanotubes.

15. The ultracapacitor of claim 14, wherein at least most of the carbon nanotubes are aligned carbon nanotubes.

16. A method, comprising:

(a) contacting a polymer host with an organic solvent to form a first composition;

(b) contacting an ionic liquid with the first composition; and

(c) removing at least most of the organic solvent from the first composition to form a free-standing film comprising the polymer host and ionic liquid.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymer host is dissolved substantially in the first composition, wherein the organic solvent is removed from the first composition by heating the first composition to a selected temperature under a vacuum, wherein the selected temperature is higher than a boiling point of the solvent but lower than decomposition temperatures of the ionic liquid and polymer host, and wherein the first composition is spread onto a substrate during step (c).

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

(I) the ionic liquid comprises;

(A) at least one cation selected from the group consisting essentially of the following compounds and mixtures thereof;

 

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ of the cationic components are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(i) a hydrogen;

(ii) a halogen;

(iii) a hydroxyl;

(iv) an amine;

(v) a thiol;

(vi) a C₁ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(vii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(viii) a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical;

(ix) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical;

(x) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more heteroatoms, such as, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

(xi) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(a′

) a carbonyl;

(b′

) an ester;

(c′

) an amide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(d′

) a sulfonate;

(e′

) a sulfonamide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(xii) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branced aliphatic hydrocarbon radical terminally functionalized by Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiv) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following;

(a″

) a C₂ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(b″

) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH

(c″

) a hydroxyl;

(d″

) an amine;

(e″

) a thiol;

(xv) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c′

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d′

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(xvi) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

C(O)—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

C(O)—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c″

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d″

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(B) at least one anion selected from the group consisting essentially of F⁻

;

Cl⁻

, Br⁻

;

I⁻

;

NO₃⁻

;

N(CN)₂⁻

;

BF₄⁻

;

ClO₄⁻

;

PF₆⁻

;

RSO₃⁻

;

RCOO⁻

;

where R is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, or phenyl group;

(CF₃)₂PF₄⁻

, (CF₃)₃PF₃⁻

, (CF₃)₄PC₂⁻

, (CF₃)₅PF⁻

, (CF₃)₆P⁻

, (CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₂CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)_{N, CF3} CF₂(CF₃)₂CO⁻

, (CF₃ SO₂⁻

)₂CH⁻

, (SF₅)₃ C⁻

, (CF₃ SO₂)₃ C⁻

, [O(CF₃)₂C₂(CF₃)₂O]₂PO⁻

, (CF₃(CF₂)₇SO₃⁻

, and mixtures thereof; and

(II) wherein the polymer host is selected from the group consisting essentially of homopolymers and copolymers of polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyvinyls, polyacrylics, polyhalo-olefins, polydienes, polyoxides/esthers/acetals, polysulfides, polyesters/thioesters, polyamides/thioamides, polyurethanes/thiourethanes, polyureas/thioureas, polyimides/thioimides, polyanhydrides/thianhydrides, polycarbonates/thiocarbonates, polyimines, polysiloxanes/silanes, polyphosphazenes, polyketones/thioketones, polysulfones/sulfoxides/sulfonates/sulfoamides, polyphylenes, and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the ionic liquid has a melting point of no more than about 100 degrees Celsius, a decomposition temperature of at least about 200 degrees Celsius, a viscosity of no more than about 200 Cp, an ionic conductivity of at least about 0.1 mS/cm, and an electrochemical window of at least about 2 Volts.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein in step (b) the first composition further comprises a substantially nonconductive, inorganic filler and wherein at least most of the filler particles have a surface area of at least about 10 m²/g, a maximum dimension of about 50 micrometers, and an average pore size of less than about 10 micrometers.

21. A method, comprising:

(a) first forming a self-supporting polymer film comprising a host polymer;

(b) second contacting the film with an ionic liquid; and

(c) heating the film and ionic liquid, while in contact with one another, to a selected temperature above a glass transition temperature of the polymer host but below decomposition temperatures of the ionic liquid and polymer host to impregnate the polymer film with the ionic liquid.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the self-supporting polymer film comprises a substantially nonconductive, inorganic filler and wherein at least most of the filler particles have a surface area of at least about 10 m²/g, a maximum dimension of about 50 micrometers, and an average pore size of less than about 10 micrometers.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein:

(I) the ionic liquid comprises;

(A) at least one cation selected from the group consisting essentially of the following compounds and mixtures thereof;

 

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₆ of the cationic components are identical or different and are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(i) a hydrogen;

(ii) a halogen;

(iii) a hydroxyl;

(iv) an amine;

(v) a thiol;

(vi) a C₁ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(vii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical;

(viii) a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical;

(ix) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical;

(x) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more heteroatoms, such as, oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur;

(xi) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having interruption by one or more functionalities selected from the group consisting essentially of;

(a′

) a carbonyl;

(b′

) an ester;

(c′

) an amide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(d′

) a sulfonate;

(e′

) a sulfonamide, where R′

selected from the group consisting essentially of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₂ straight-chain, branched or cyclic alkane or alkene;

(xii) a C₂ to C₂₅ linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical terminally functionalized by Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, N₂, NCH₃ or SH;

(xiii) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical having at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(xiv) a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical heteroatom selected from the group consisting essentially of O, N, S, and optionally substituted with at least one of the following;

(a″

) a C₂ to C₂₅ straight-chain, branched hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH;

(b″

) a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical substituted with at least one of the following Cl, Br, F, I, NH, OH, NH₂, NHCH₃ or SH

(c″

) a hydroxyl;

(d″

) an amine;

(e″

) a thiol;

(xv) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b′

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c′

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d′

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(xvi) a polyether of the type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

C(O)—

R₈ or block or random type —

O—

(—

R₇—

O—

)_n—

(—

R₇, —

O—

)_m—

C(O)—

R₈, wherein at least of the following is true;

(a″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;

(b″

″

) R₇ is a linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and

(c″

″

) wherein n is from 1 to 40; and

(d″

″

) R₈ is hydrogen, or a C₅ to C₃₀ straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon radical, or a C₅ to C₃₀ cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₆ to C₃₀ aromatic hydrocarbon radical, or a C₇ to C₄₀ alkylaryl radical; and

(B) at least one anion selected from the group consisting essentially of F⁻

;

Cl⁻

, Br⁻

;

I⁻

;

NO₃⁻

;

N(CN)₂⁻

;

BF₄⁻

;

ClO₄⁻

;

PF₆⁻

;

RSO₃⁻

;

RCOO⁻

;

where R is an alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, or phenyl group;

(CF₃)₂PF₄⁻

, (CF₃)₃PF₃⁻

, (CF₃)₄PF₂⁻

, (CF₃)₅PF⁻

, (CF₃)₆P⁻

, (CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₂CF₂SO₃⁻

)₂, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂N—

, CF₃CF₂(CF₃)₂CO⁻

, (CF₃SO₂⁻

)₂CH⁻

, (SF₅)₃C⁻

, (CF₃SO₂)₃C⁻

, [O(CF₃)₂C₂(CF₃)₂O]₂PO⁻

, (CF₃(CF₂)₇SO₃⁻

, and mixtures thereof; and

(II) wherein the polymer host is selected from the group consisting essentially of homopolymers and copolymers of polyolefins, polystyrenes, polyvinyls, polyacrylics, polyhalo-olefins, polydienes, polyoxides/esthers/acetals, polysulfides, polyesters/thioesters, polyamides/thioamides, polyurethanes/thiourethanes, polyureas/thioureas, polyimides/thioimides, polyanhydrides/thianhydrides, polycarbonates/thiocarbonates, polyimines, polysiloxanes/silanes, polyphosphazenes, polyketones/thioketones, polysulfones/sulfoxides/sulfonates/sulfoamides, polyphylenes, and mixtures thereof.