Phase Behavior and Ionic Conductivity of Blended, Ion-Condensed Electrolytes with Ordered Morphologies

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors conduct a robust study of morphology, thermal properties, and conductivity in a set of liquid crystalline electrolytes. While their experimental procedures seem appropriate, and results generally support their discussion points, there are several significant issues with the writing of the article that must be addressed before this can be appropriately reviewed and considered for publication

1.     There is no conclusions section

22.     Furthermore, nearly all of the references in the introduction do not seem to cite the correct literature, and there is a significant lack of reference use in the results and discussion section.

Here are some additional comments for the authors to address, though points 1 and 2 are the most significant.

33.     Page 3, line 109

It appears that the blend ratios are molar ratios, but the authors should be clear about that.

44.     Page 3, line 121

It is not clear what the author means by “cold crystallization” upon heating

5.     Page 3, line 123

The authors describe a “smectic to isothermal transition”. This should be “smectic to isotropic”, and corrected throughout the manuscript.

66.     Page 6, line 171

Typo: “shape” peak should be “sharp” peak

77.     Page 6, Figure 4

The C18IPS0.3 system has significantly higher order than just the layered peaks at 25 and 50C (q<0.5 A^-1). The authors should discuss the significance of this phase and if they have attempted to identify it.

88.     Pages 5-7

While the X-ray scattering and DSC data may be consistent with a smectic to isotropic phase transition, the authors do a poor job of explaining how this is determined/identified from the actually results (particularly the X-ray scattering). They must elaborate on this as well as provide appropriate citations.

99.     Pages 5-7

Based on Figure 4, the “crystalline” systems appear to be semi-crystalline. Can the author shed any insight on the % crystallinity, either rom the DSC or X-ray scattering results?

110.  Page 8

“In general, the discontinuities and change in temperature dependence that occur because of phase changes.”

The authors should elaborate which types of phase changes cause which types of discontinuities in the conductivity results.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

This is a very nice and interesting work. The Authors have carefully characterized the  compounds from a molecular point of view and the phase behaviour of the systems. They report both structural and dynamic properties of the mixtures as potential electrolytes in Li-ion batteries. The results are significant and add to the field. Therefore I recommend publication. 

I only have a few minor comments: the Authors mention an "isothermal-to-smectic" transition, do they mean "isotropic-to-smectic"? The transition is observed on cooling as a function of the temperature, this nomenclature is unclear.

Moreover, the characterization of the ILC phase should include a polarized optical micrograph which is the only method that unambiguously can identify the type of LC phase (in this case claimed to be a smectic, but is is a smectic A? Monolayered? Bilayered?)

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

No additional comments. The authors sufficiently addressed my concerns, and I recommend for publication. 

Reviewer 2 Report

The revised manuscript can be published in its present form