锂离子电池隔膜的功能化改性及表征技术

随着锂离子电池在动力和规模化储能等新能源领域应用的不断拓展,具有特殊功能且满足特定使用需求隔膜的设计准则、制备/改性方法及表征技术亟需系统深入研究。针对锂离子电池高性能和高安全性的要求,研究人员已通过结构设计和表面化学改性等策略优化了隔膜的本征特性,并通过系列表征技术探讨了隔膜的功能化改性对锂离子电池电化学性能的影响。基于以上背景,本文从离子传输、枝晶形核与生长、及安全性能三个方面详细探讨了隔膜对电池性能影响的关键因素及其改性方法,并系统总结了隔膜结构、物化特性、力学性能、热学性能以及电化学性能的表征技术,以期为功能隔膜的合理设计,从而优化锂离子电池性能提供理论和实践指导。同时,本文对隔膜未来的进一步研究和发展提出了展望。     

纤维素微孔锂电隔膜的制备及性能研究

为了改善锂电隔膜的亲液性和耐高温性,以醋酸纤维素为成膜材料,利用相转化法制备了新型锂电隔膜,通过形貌和孔道结构表征、亲液性能和耐热性能测试对醋酸纤维素隔膜的基本性能进行研究,并将该隔膜装配成锂离子电池进行充放电性能测试. 结果表明,醋酸纤维素隔膜具有均匀的微孔结构,孔隙率达到65%,约为传统聚烯烃隔膜的1.5倍;纤维素材料的良好亲液性和高孔隙率结构改善了隔膜的吸液性能,其吸液率达到285%;该隔膜在150 ^oC、30 min的热处理条件下未发生明显的热收缩. 鉴于上述优点,相对于市售PE隔膜,醋酸纤维素隔膜所装配锂离子电池显示出更优的循环性能和倍率性能.     

Cellulose nanofibrils derived from pulp as a high performance separator for lithium-ion batteries

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HwBKP) are produced via enzymatic, chemical, and mechanical treatment. A nanoporous structured CNF-based separator is produced, and the electrochemical performance, morphology, and thermal stability analyses are performed in comparison to the commercial polyethylene separator. The results obtained show that the electrolyte-philic CNF separator has capacity retention of 88.6% over 200 cycles and very good ionic conductivity and wettability results due to its high hydrophilic nature. At 140°C, the CNF separator was resilient to heat and remained intact. The CNF separator reflects high thermal resistance and good electrolyte uptake properties that are among the mandatory requirements of a separator hence, a promising contender for use in lithium-ion batteries.     

Separator technologies for lithium-ion batteries

Although separators do not participate in the electrochemical reactions in a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, they perform the critical functions of physically separating the positive and negative electrodes while permitting the free flow of lithium ions through the liquid electrolyte that fill in their open porous structure. Separators for liquid electrolyte Li-ion batteries can be classified into porous polymeric membranes, nonwoven mats, and composite separators. Porous membranes are most commonly used due to their relatively low processing cost and good mechanical properties. Although not widely used in Li-ion batteries, nonwoven mats have the potential for low cost and thermally stable separators. Recent composite separators have attracted much attention, however, as they offer excellent thermal stability and wettability by the nonaqueous electrolyte. The present paper (1) presents an overview of separator characterization techniques, (2) reviews existing technologies for producing different types of separators, and (3) discusses directions for future investigation. Research into separator fabrication techniques and chemical modifications, coupled with the numerical modeling, should lead to further improvements in the performance and abuse tolerance as well as cost reduction of Li-ion batteries.     

Li-SGO掺杂半互穿网络型多孔单离子传导聚合物复合电解质的制备

本文成功制备了磺酸锂功能化石墨烯,通过原位聚合方式成功将其添加到单离子传导聚合物电解质中制备出磺酸锂功能化石墨烯改性半互穿网络型多孔单离子传导聚合物复合电解质。与未掺杂磺酸锂功能化石墨烯半互穿网络型多孔单离子传导聚合物电解质相比,该电解质具有更高的孔隙率、吸液率、机械拉伸强度和离子电导率。电化学测试结果表明,掺杂磺酸锂功能化石墨烯后,单离子传导聚合物电解质表现出与电极界面更好的相容性,组装的Li|LiFePO₄锂离子电池表现出良好的循环性能和更高的倍率性能。对氧化石墨烯磺酸锂功能化可应用于对单离子传导聚合物电解质的改性,有助于提升单离子传导聚合物电解质的综合性能,获得更高的电池性能。     

Rational Design of Cellulose Nanofibrils Separator for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with high thermal stability and excellent electrolyte wettability attracted tremendous attention as a promising separator for the emerging sodium-ion batteries. The pore structure of the separator plays a vital role in electrochemical performance. CNF separators are assembled using the bottom-up approach in this study, and the pore structure is carefully controlled through film-forming techniques. The acid-treated separators prepared from the solvent exchange and freeze-drying demonstrated an optimal pore structure with a high electrolyte uptake rate (978.8%) and Na⁺ transference number (0.88). Consequently, the obtained separator showed a reversible specific capacity of 320 mAh/g and enhanced cycling performance at high rates compared to the commercial glass fiber separator (290 mAh/g). The results highlight that CNF separators with an optimized pore structure are advisable for sodium-ion batteries.     

Recent Development of Polyolefin‐Based Microporous Separators for Li−Ion Batteries: A Review

Secondary Li?ion batteries have been paid attention to wide‐range applications of power source for the portable electronics, electric vehicle, and electric storage reservoir. Generally, lithium‐ion batteries are comprised of four components including anode, cathode, electrolyte and separator. Although separators do not take part in the electrochemical reactions in a lithium‐ion (Li?ion) battery, they conduct the critical functions of physically separating the positive and negative electrodes to prevent electrical short circuit while permitting the free flow of lithium ions through the liquid electrolyte that fill in their open porous structure. Hence, the separator is directly related to the safety and the power performance of the battery. Among a number of separators developed thus far, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) porous membrane separators have been the most dominant ones for commercial Li?ion batteries over the decades because of their superior properties such as cost‐efficiency, good mechanical strength and pore structure, electrochemical stability, and thermal shutdown properties. However, there are main issues for vehicular storage, such as nonpolarity, low surface energy and poor thermal stability, although the polyolefin separators have proven dependable in portable applications. Hence, in this review, we decide to provide an overview of the types of polyolefin microporous separators utilized in Li?ion batteries and the methods employed to modify their surface in detail. The remarkable results demonstrate that extraordinary properties can be exhibited by mono‐ and multilayer polyolefin separators if they are modified using suitable methods and materials.     

Construction of PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO2 coaxial fibrous separator with enhanced mechanical strength and electrolyte affinity for lithium-ion batteries

Poly(m-phthaloyl-m-phenylenediamine) (PMIA) is promising as the separator in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for its excellent thermostability, insulation and self-extinguishing properties. However, its low mechanical strength and poor electrolyte affinity limit its application in LIBs. In this work, a new PMIA@polyacrylonitrile-polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene-titanium dioxide (PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO₂) composite fibrous separator with a coaxial core-shell structure was developed by combining coaxial electrospinning, hot pressing, and heat treatment techniques. This separator not only inherits the exceptional thermostability of PMIA, showing no evident thermal shrinkage at 220 °C, but also reveals improved mechanical strength (29.7 MPa) due to the formation of firm connections between fibers with the melted PVDF-HFP. Meanwhile, the massive polar groups in PVDF-HFP play a vital role in improving the electrolyte affinity, which renders the separator a high ionic conductivity of 1.36 × 10⁻³ S/cm. Therefore, the LIBs with PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO₂ separators exhibited excellent cycling and rate performance at 25 °C, and a high capacity retention rate (76.2%) at 80 °C for 200 cycles at 1 C. Besides, the lithium metal symmetric battery assembled by the separator showed a small overpotential, indicating that the separator had a role in inhibiting lithium dendrites. In short, the PMIA@PAN/PVDF-HFP/TiO₂ separator possesses a wide application prospect in the domain of LIBs.     

UV-cured polymer electrolyte membranes for Li-cells: Improved mechanical properties by a novel cellulose reinforcement

One of the main drawbacks that restricts the practical application of gel-polymer electrolytes is the inferior mechanical performance compared to other available systems. In this work, we have reinforced UV-cured methacrylic membranes with cellulose. To enhance its compatibility with the polymer matrix, cellulose is modified by UV-grafting poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate on it. Excellent mechanical properties are obtained and good ionic conductivity values are observed, enlightening that this kind of membrane is an interesting candidate for future applications as thin gel-polymer electrolyte in flexible lithium batteries.     

Polymer/colloid dual-phase electrolyte membrane for rechargeable lithium batteries

In this work, a polymer/ceramic phase-separation porous membrane is first prepared from polyvinyl alcohol–polyacrylonitrile water emulsion mixed with fumed nano-SiO₂ particles by the phase inversion method. This porous membrane is then wetted by a non-aqueous Li–salt liquid electrolyte to form the polymer/colloid dual-phase electrolyte membrane. Compared to the liquid electrolyte in conventional polyolefin separator, the obtained electrolyte membrane has superior properties in high ionic conductivity (1.9 mS?cm^?1 at 30 °C), high Li⁺ transference number (0.41), high electrochemical stability (extended up to 5.0 V versus Li⁺/Li on stainless steel electrode), and good interfacial stability with lithium metal. The test cell of Li/LiCoO₂ with the electrolyte membrane as separator also shows high-rate capability and excellent cycle performance. The polymer/colloid dual-phase electrolyte membrane shows promise for application in rechargeable lithium batteries.     

有机-无机复合型聚合物电解质的研究进展

聚合物电解质是现在锂离子电池研究领域的热点，有机－无机复合型聚合物电解质（CSPE）是现在聚合物电解质的研究主流。在聚合物电解质中添加无机添末，特别是纳米材料，大大改善了聚合物电解质的机械性能、离子导电性能以及界面稳定性能。对CSPE性能进行了评价，对在CSPE中添加无机粉末性能改善机理作了概括和探讨，并对CSPE的前景作了展望。     

固态锂电池界面优化策略的研究进展

固态锂电池具有安全性好、能量密度高等优点,在新能源汽车和智能电子等领域具有广泛的应用前景。然而,由化学/电化学和物理因素引起的界面副反应与高界面阻抗问题制约了其进一步发展。先前的综述已对解决化学/电化学界面问题的方法有了相对全面的阐述,但并未细致讨论不同结构固态电池中物理界面的影响及应对策略。本文将简要介绍化学/电化学界面问题及其解决方案;重点按结构特点将固态锂电池分为三明治结构、粉末复合结构和3D一体化结构,细致地分析不同电池结构的物理界面特点与优化策略,并对各种策略的优缺点进行比较分析;最后,对固态锂电池电极/电解质界面的未来研究方向进行展望。     

Preparation and Properties of Poly（ether ether ketone）/Carbon Nanotube Modified Polypropylene Janus Composite Separator北大核心CSCD

Lithium-ion batteries （LIBs）have attracted wide attention because of their broad prospects in electric vehicles. However,the safety problems and low multiplier performance of the commercial polyolefin separator limit their further development,due to the poor dimensional thermal stability and low electrolyte absorption rate. Poly（ether ether ketone）（PEEK）and carbon nanotube（CNT）are compounded to coat on polypropylene （PP） to prepare Janus composite separator （PP@C） through the phase inversion method. PP@C composite separator does not deform at 180 ℃ for 0. 5 h（only slight deformation）,illustrating excellent thermal stability. The electrolyte absorption rate of PP@C2 is 193. 8%. The electrolyte uptake rate of the PP@C2 composite membrane was 193. 8%,which was 64. 5% higher than the PP membrane,showing a superduper electrolyte permeability. As a result,the specific discharge capacity of LIBs assembled with PP@C2 composite separator is 157. 6 mA·h/g at 0. 2 C and 129. 8 mA·h/g at 2 C,showing good rate performance with the capacity recovery rate of more than 99%. This might be attributed to the ultra-high thermal stability of PEEK,the good affinity of the electrolyte,the high conductivity of CNT,as well as the uniform dispersion of Li+ ,so that the separator can have excellent electrochemical performance while improving safety. © 2022, Science Press (China). All rights reserved.     

全固态电池界面的研究进展

Owing to the serious energy crisis and environmental problems caused by fossil energy consumption, development of high-energy-density batteries is becoming increasingly significant to satisfy the rapidly growing social demands. Lithium-ion batteries have received widespread attention because of their high energy densities and environmental friendliness. At present, they are widely used in portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. However, security aspects need to be addressed urgently. Substantial advances in liquid electrolyte-based lithium-ion batteries have become a performance bottleneck in the recent years. Traditional lithium-ion batteries use organic liquids as electrolytes, but the flammability and corrosion of these electrolytes considerably limit their development. Continuous growth of lithium dendrites can pierce the separator, leading to electrolyte leakage and combustion, which is a serious safety hazard. Replacement of organic electrolytes with solid-state electrolytes is one of the promising solutions for the development of next-generation energy storage devices, because they have high energy densities and are safe. Solid electrolytes can remarkably alleviate the safety hazards involved in the use of traditional liquid-based lithium-ion batteries. In addition, the composite of solid-state electrolytes and lithium metal is expected to result in a higher energy density. However, due to the lack of fluidity of the solid electrolytes, problems such as limited solid-solid contact area and increased impedance at the interface when solid-state electrolytes are in contact with electrodes must be solved. The localized and buried interface is a major drawback that restricts the electrochemical performance and practical applications of the solid-state batteries. Fabrication of a stable interface between the electrodes and solid-state electrolyte is the main challenge in the development of solid-state lithium metal batteries. All these aspects are critical to the electrochemical performance and safety of the solid-state batteries. Current research mainly focuses on addressing the problems related to the solid-solid interface in solid-state batteries and improving the electrochemical performance of such batteries. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the challenges in the fabrication of solid-state batteries, including poor chemical and electrochemical compatibilities and mechanical instability. Research progress on the improvement strategies for interface problems and the advanced characterization methods for the interface problems are discussed in detail. Meanwhile, we also propose a prospect for the future development of solid-state batteries to guide the rational designing of next-generation high-energy solid-state batteries. There are many critical problems in solid-state batteries that must be fully understood. With further research, all-solid-state batteries are expected to replace the traditional liquid-based lithium-ion batteries and become an important system for a safe and reliable energy storage.     

A Selection Rule for Hydrofluoroether Electrolyte Cosolvent: Establishing a Linear Free‐Energy Relationship in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) have been adopted widely as electrolyte cosolvents for battery systems because of their unique low solvating behavior. The electrolyte is currently utilized in lithium‐ion, lithium–sulfur, lithium–air, and sodium‐ion batteries. By evaluating the relative solvating power of different HFEs with distinct structural features, and considering the shuttle factor displayed by electrolytes that employ HFE cosolvents, we have established the quantitative structure–activity relationship between the organic structure and the electrochemical performance of the HFEs. Moreover, we have established the linear free‐energy relationship between the structural properties of the electrolyte cosolvents and the polysulfide shuttle effect in lithium–sulfur batteries. These findings provide valuable mechanistic insight into the polysulfide shuttle effect in lithium–sulfur batteries, and are instructive when it comes to selecting the most suitable HFE electrolyte cosolvent for different battery systems.     

隔膜对双电层电容器和混合型电池-超级电容器的电化学性能的影响

隔膜是双电层电容器和混合型电池-超级电容器等电化学储能器件的重要组成元件.本文采用1 mol?L-1四乙基四氟硼酸铵的丙烯碳酸酯电解液制备了基于活性炭的扣式双电层电容器,并采用1 mol?L-1六氟磷酸锂锂离子电解液制备了(LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2+活性炭)/石墨体系的混合型电池-超级电容器.研究了不同类型隔膜的物理化学性能,以及其对双电层电容器和混合型电池-超级电容器的电化学性能的影响.四种隔膜分别是无纺布聚丙烯毡、多孔聚丙烯薄膜、Al2O3涂层的聚丙烯薄膜和纤维素纸隔膜.进行了表面形貌、差示扫描量热、电解液吸液量和表观接触角测试表征.电化学测试表明,采用纤维素隔膜的双电层电容器具有最高的比电容和更优的倍率性能,电容器的自放电性能差别不大.而对于混合型电池-超级电容器,采用聚丙烯薄膜和无纺布聚丙烯毡隔膜器件的比容量比其它器件约高20%,且采用纤维素隔膜的器件自放电率最高.     

Effect of silica nanoparticles/poly（vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene） coated layers on the performance of polypropylene separator for lithium-ion batteries

In an effort to reduce thermal shrinkage and improve electrochemical performance of porous polypropylene （PP） separators for lithium-ion batteries, a new composite separator is developed by introducing ceramic coated layers on both sides of PP separator through a dip-coating process. The coated layers are comprised of heat-resistant and hydrophilic silica nanoparticles and polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene （PVDF-HFP） binders. Highly porous honeycomb structure is formed and the thickness of the layer is only about 700 nm. In comparison to the pristine PP separator, the composite separator shows significant reduction in thermal shrinkage and improvement in liquid electrolyte uptake and ionic conduction, which play an important role in improving cell performance such as discharge capacity, C-rate capability, cycle performance and coulombic efficiency.     

Towards High-performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: the Modification of Polypropylene Separator by 3D Porous Carbon Structure Embedded with Fe3C/Fe Nanoparticles

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries with high energy densities have received increasing attention. However, the electrochemical performance of Li-S batteries is still far from the satisfactory of the practical application, which can be mainly attributed to the shuttling of polysulfides and the slow reaction kinetics of polysulfide conversion. To address this issue, a 3D porous carbon structure constructed by 2D N-doped graphene and 1D carbon nanotubes with embedded Fe₃C/Fe nanoparticles(NG@Fe₃C/Fe) was designed and prepared by a simple programmed calcination method for the modification of polypropylene(PP) separator. The Fe₃C/Fe nanoparticles demonstrate an excellent catalytic conversion and strong chemisorption towards polysulfides, while the unique architecture of N-doped graphene promotes the Li⁺/electron transfer and the physical adsorption of polysulfides. The electrochemical performance of the Li-S batteries with the NG@Fe₃C/Fe-modified separator is significantly improved. A large discharge capacity of 1481 mA∙h∙g^-1 is achieved at 0.2 C(1 C=1675 mA/g), and a high capacity of 601 mA∙h∙g^-1 is maintained after discharged/charged for 500 cycles at a current rate of 1 C. This work provides a new approach for the development of high-performance Li-S batteries through the modification of the PP separator by rationally designed composites with large adsorption capability to polysulfides, good wettability to the electrolyte and high catalytic property.     

Nonflammable pseudoconcentrated electrolytes for batteries

Electrolyte is essentially important for electrochemical and safety performance of batteries. The pseudoconcentrated electrolyte, with lean solvent but anion-involved solvation sheath and heterogeneous long-range structure, endows the electrolyte with superior interfacial properties and the bulk properties, enabling the high-voltage lithium-ion battery, lithium-metal battery, and sodium battery with outstanding electrochemical performances. Nonflammable solvents as diluent in the pseudoconcentrated electrolyte can reach 30–60% by volume share, making the electrolyte nonflammable and then showing great possibility in mitigating the thermal runaway of the battery. As a new family of liquid electrolyte, nonflammable pseudoconcentrated electrolyte is promising for high safety and high energy density secondary batteries.     

Two-dimensional vermiculite separator for lithium sulfur batteries

A lamellar vermiculite separator assembled with exfoliation vermiculites is developed for lithium sulfur batteries. The vermiculite separator can simultaneously suppress the parasitic reactions induced by polysulfide intermediate shuttle, and prevent the short circuit by potential lithium dendrite penetration with the ultrahigh Young's modulus.