Solvent-free thiophene-based electrolytes: synthesis of new liquid-crystalline ionic conductors for batteries: part I

New liquid crystalline thiophene esters, thiophene-3-yl 3,4,5-tris( n -dodecan-1-yloxy)benzoate (ThBz1) and thiophene-3-yl 3,4,5-tris[4-( n -dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoate (ThBz2), were synthesized for use in lithium-ion batteries as safe, new solvent-free ionic conductors. Both compounds were synthesized in multi-step reactions and were characterized via 1 H, 13 C NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, confirming the formation of the desired products. ThBz1 and ThBz2 showed good thermal stability and liquid crystalline behaviour. Electrochemical tests demonstrated a wide electrochemical window of 4 V for both tested ThBz compounds. Moreover, preliminary battery tests for new electrolytes in the LiCoO 2 /Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 system confirmed their applicability in lithium-ion batteries. We report the synthesis of new liquid crystalline thiophene esters, ThBz1 and ThBz2, for use in lithium-ion batteries as new, safe, solvent-free ionic conductors.