Block Copolymer Derived Multifunctional Gyroidal Monoliths for 3-D Electrical Energy Storage Applications

Multifunctional three-dimensional (3-D) nano-architectures, integrating all device components within tens of nanometers, offer great promise for next generation electrical energy storage applications, but have remained challenging to achieve. The lack of appropriate synthesis methods, enabling precise 3-D spatial control at the nanoscale, remains a key issue holding back the development of such intricate architectures. Here we present an approach to such systems based on the bottom-up synthesis of penta-continuous nanohybrid monoliths with four functional components integrated in a triblock terpolymer derived core-shell double gyroid architecture. Two distinct 3 D interpenetrating networks serving as cathode and current collector are separated from a carbon anode matrix by continuous, ultrathin polymer electrolyte shells. All periodically ordered domains are less than 20 nm in their layer dimensions and integrated throughout the macroscopic monolith. Initial electrochemical measurements with the Li-ion/S system exhibit reversible battery-like charge-discharge characteristics with orders of magnitude decreases in footprint area over conventional flat thin layer designs.