Effect of TiO2 nanoparticle additions on the conductivity of network polymer electrolytes for lithium power sources

Network copolymer electrolytes were synthesized from polyether (polyester) diacrylates with different structures and chain lengths of polyester diacrylate and polyethylene glycol diacrylate. The optimum matrix for ion transport in the electrolyte was formed from only one type of oligomer. The influence of TiO₂ nanopowder additions (～60 nm) on the conductivity of the copolymer electrolyte was studied. The addition of 10 wt % TiO₂ led to an increase in the conductivity by an order of magnitude at 30°C; the effective activation energy decreased by 20%. At elevated temperatures, the mobility of polymer chains increased and the contribution of TiO₂ nanoparticles in ion transport was only half of the order of magnitude of the conductivity at 100°C. The increase in the conductivity of the polymer electrolyte after the addition of TiO₂ was presumably caused by the formation of a more mobile state of the lithium ion near the nanoparticle surface, as shown by pulsed field gradient (PFG) ⁷Li NMR.     

Effect of solvents on properties of polymer gel-electrolyte based on polyester diacrylate

New polymer gel electrolytes based on polyester diacrylates and LiClO₄ salt solutions in organic solvents are developed for lithium ion and lithium polymer batteries with a high ionic conductivity up to 2.7 × 10^?3 Ohm^?1cm^?1 at the room temperature. To choose the optimum liquid electrolyte composition, the dependence is studied of physico-chemical parameters of new gel electrolytes on the composition of the mixture of aprotic organic solvents: ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, and λ-butyrolacton. The bulk conductivity of gel electrolytes and exchange currents at the gel electrolyte/Li interface are studied using the electrochemical impedance method in symmetrical cells with two Li electrodes. The glass transition temperature and gel homogeneity are determined using the method of differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that the optimum mixture is that of propylene carbonate and λ-butyrolacton, in which a homogeneous polymer gel is formed in a wide temperature range of ?150 to +50°C.     

Eutectic-Based Polymer Electrolyte with the Enhanced Lithium Salt Dissociation for High-Performance Lithium Metal Batteries

The deployment of lithium metal anode in solid-state batteries with polymer electrolytes has been recognized as a promising approach to achieving high-energy-density technologies. However, the practical application of the polymer electrolytes is currently constrained by various challenges, including low ionic conductivity, inadequate electrochemical window, and poor interface stability. To address these issues, a novel eutectic-based polymer electrolyte consisting of succinonitrile (SN) and poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) is developed. The research results demonstrate that the interactions between SN and PEGMEA promote the dissociation of the lithium difluoro(oxalato) borate (LiDFOB) salt and increase the concentration of free Li⁺. The well-designed eutectic-based PAN_1.2-SPE (PEGMEA: SN=1: 1.2 mass ratio) exhibits high ionic conductivity of 1.30 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C and superior interface stability with Li anode. The Li/Li symmetric cell based on PAN_1.2-SPE enables long-term plating/stripping at 0.3 and 0.5 mA cm⁻², and the Li/LiFePO₄ cell achieves superior long-term cycling stability (capacity retention of 80.3 % after 1500 cycles). Moreover, Li/LiFePO₄ and Li/LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ pouch cells employing PAN_1.2-SPE demonstrate excellent cycling and safety characteristics. This study presents a new pathway for designing high-performance polymer electrolytes and promotes the practical application of high-stable lithium metal batteries.     

Grain Boundary Electronic Insulation for High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Sulfide electrolytes with high ionic conductivities are one of the most highly sought for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). However, the non-negligible electronic conductivities of sulfide electrolytes (≈10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹) lead to electron smooth transport through the sulfide electrolyte pellets, resulting in Li dendrite directly depositing at the grain boundaries (GBs) and serious self-discharge. Here, a grain-boundary electronic insulation (GBEI) strategy is proposed to block electron transport across the GBs, enabling Li−Li symmetric cells with 30 times longer cycling life and Li−LiCoO₂ full cells with three times lower self-discharging rate than pristine sulfide electrolytes. The Li−LiCoO₂ ASSLBs deliver high capacity retention of 80 % at 650 cycles and stable cycling performance for over 2600 cycles at 0.5 mA cm⁻². The innovation of the GBEI strategy provides a new direction to pursue high-performance ASSLBs via tailoring the electronic conductivity.     

Review on gel polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries

This paper reviews the state-of-art of polymer electrolytes in view of their electrochemical and physical properties for the applications in lithium batteries. This review mainly encompasses on five polymer hosts namely poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVdF-HFP) as electrolytes. Also the ionic conductivity, morphology, porosity and cycling behavior of PVdF-HFP membranes prepared by phase inversion technique with different non-solvents have been presented. The cycling behavior of LiMn₂O₄/polymer electrolyte (PE)/Li cells is also described.     

Fabrication and characterization of P(VDF-HFP)/SBA-15 composite membranes for Li-ion batteries

This study reports on the preparation of a composite polymer electrolyte for secondary lithium-ion battery. Poly(vinylidiene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) was used as the polymer host, and mesoporous SBA-15 (silica) ceramic fillers used as the solid plasticizer were added into the polymer matrix. The SBA-15 fillers with mesoporous structure and high specific surface can trap more liquid electrolytes to enhance the ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivity of P(VDF-HFP)/SBA-15 composite polymer electrolytes was in the order of 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The characteristic properties of the composite polymer membranes were examined by using FTIR spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and an AC impedance method. For comparison, the LiFePO₄/Li composite batteries with a conventional microporous polyethylene (PE) separator and pure P(VDF-HFP) polymer membrane were also prepared and studied. As a result, the LiFePO₄/Li composite battery comprised the P(VDF-HFP)/10 wt.% m-SBA-15 composite polymer electrolyte, which achieves an optimal discharge capacity of 88 mAh g⁻¹ at 20 C rate with a high coulomb efficiency of 95%. It is demonstrated that the P(VDF-HFP)/m-SBA-15 composite membrane exhibits as a good candidate for application to LiFePO₄ polymer 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.     

Electron Redistribution Enables Redox-Resistible Li6PS5Cl towards High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Sulfide electrolytes with high ionic conductivity hold great promise for all-solid-state lithium batteries. However, the parasitic redox reactions between sulfide electrolyte and Li metal result in interfacial instability and rapid decline of the battery performance. Herein, a redox-resistible Li₆PS₅Cl (LPSC) electrolyte is created by regulating the electron distribution in LPSC with Mg and F incorporation. The introduction of Mg triggers the electron agglomeration around S atom, inhibiting the electron acceptance from Li, and F generates the self-limiting interface, which hinders the redox reactions between LPSC and Li metal. This redox-resistible Li₆PS₅Cl-MgF₂ electrolyte therefore presents a high critical current density (2.3 times that of pristine electrolyte). The LiCoO₂/Li₆PS₅Cl-MgF₂/Li cell shows an outstanding cycling stability (93.3 %@100 cycles at 0.2 C). This study highlights the electronic structure modulation to address redox issues on sulfide-based lithium batteries.     

Preparation of PVDF/PEO-PPO-PEO blend microporous membranes for lithium ion batteries via thermally induced phase separation process

Microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polyethylene oxide-co-polypropylene oxide-co-polyethylene oxide (PVDF/PEO-PPO-PEO, or PVDF/F127) blend membranes were prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) process using sulfolane as the diluent. Then they were soaked in a liquid electrolyte to form polymer electrolytes. The effects of F127 weight fraction on the morphology, crystallinity and porosity of the blend membranes were studied. It was found that both electrolyte uptake of blend membranes and ionic conductivity of corresponding polymer electrolytes increased with the increase of F127 weight fraction. The maximum ionic conductivity was found to reach 2.94 ± 0.02 × 10⁻³ S/cm at 20 °C. Electrochemical stability window was stable up to 4.7 V (vs. Li⁺/Li). The testing results indicated that the PVDF/F127 blend membranes prepared via TIPS process can be used as the polymer microporous matrices of polymer electrolytes for lithium ion batteries.     

The network gel polymer electrolyte based on poly(acrylate-co-imide) and its transport properties in lithium ion batteries

Poly (acrylate-co-imide)-based gel polymer electrolytes are synthesized by in situ free radical polymerization. Infrared spectroscopy confirms the complete polymerization of gel polymer electrolytes. The ionic conductivity of gel polymer electrolytes are measured as a function of different repeating EO units of polyacrylates. An optimal ionic conductivity of the poly (PEGMEMA₁₁₀₀-BMI) gel polymer electrolyte is determined to be 4.8 × 10^–3 S/cm at 25 °C. The lithium transference number is found to be 0.29. The cyclic voltammogram shows that the wide electrochemical stability window of the gel polymer electrolyte varies from −0.5 to 4.20 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). Furthermore, we found the transport properties of novel gel polymer electrolytes are dependent on the EO design and are also related to the rate capability and the cycling ability of lithium polymer batteries. The relationship between polymer electrolyte design, lithium transport properties and battery performance are investigated in this research.     

Structures of polymer electrolytes based on polyester diacrylate: an NMR study

The structure and dynamics of polymer network electrolytes for lithium batteries based on polyester diacrylate, lithium perchlorate, and ethylene carbonate were studied. The polyester diacrylate contained diacrylate units, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate units, and product of dimerization of the initial monomer (to 10% by mass). An ¹ H NMR study revealed three phases corresponding to ethylene carbonate in the polymer, ethylene carbonate bound to Li⁺ ions, and cyclic dimer of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate.     

Ultraviolet-Cured Semi-Interpenetrating Network Polymer Electrolytes for High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

Solid polymer electrolytes with relatively low ionic conductivity at room temperature and poor mechanical strength greatly restrict their practical applications. Herein, we design semi-interpenetrating network polymer (SNP) electrolyte composed of an ultraviolet-crosslinked polymer network (ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate), linear polymer chains (polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) and lithium salt solution to satisfy the demand of high ionic conductivity, good mechanical flexibility, and electrochemical stability for lithium metal batteries. The semi-interpenetrating network has a pivotal effect in improving chain relaxation, facilitating the local segmental motion of polymer chains and reducing the polymer crystallinity. Thanks to these advantages, the SNP electrolyte shows a high ionic conductivity (1.12 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C), wide electrochemical stability window (4.6 V vs. Li⁺/Li), good bendability and shape versatility. The promoted ion transport combined with suppressed impedance growth during cycling contribute to good cell performance. The assembled quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries (LiFePO₄/SNP/Li) exhibit good cycling stability and rate capability at room temperature.     

Plasticized polymer electrolyte membranes based on PEO/PVdF-HFP for use as an effective electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries

Plasticized polymer electrolytes were prepared using poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO)/poly(vinylidene fluoridehexafluoro propylene)(PVd F-HFP) with lithium perchlorate(Li Cl O4) and different plasticizers. XRD and FTIR spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the structure and the complexation of plasticizer with the host polymer matrix. The role of interaction between polymer hosts and plasticizer on conductivity is discussed using the results of alternating current(a.c.) impedance studies. TG-DTA and SEM were used for thermal and physical characterizations. Maximum ionic conductivity(3.26 × 10~(-4) S·cm~(-1)) has been observed for ethylene carbonate(EC)-based polymer electrolytes. Electrochemical performance of the plasticized polymer electrolyte is evaluated in LiFePO_4/plasticized polymer electrolytes(PPEs)/Li coin cell. Good performance with low capacity fading on charge discharge cycling is demonstrated.     

Anion receptor-coated separator for lithium-ion polymer battery

Anion receptor-coated separators were prepared by coating poly(ethylene glycol) borate ester (PEGB) as an anion receptor and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) as a good adhesive material towards electrodes onto microporous polyethylene (PE) separators. Gel polymer electrolytes were fabricated by soaking them in an liquid electrolyte, 1 M LiPF₆ in EC/DEC/PC (30/65/5, wt.%). As the weight ratio of PEGB to PVAc in a coating layer increased, gel polymer electrolytes showed higher cationic conductivity and electrochemical stability. The cationic conductivity and electrochemical stability of the gel polymer electrolyte based on coated separator with PVAc/PEGB (2/5, weight ratio) could reach 2.8 × 10^–4 S cm^–1 and 4.8 V, respectively. Lithium-ion polymer cells (LiCoO₂/graphite) based on gel polymer electrolytes with and without PEGB were assembled, and their electrochemical performances were evaluated.     

New solid polymer electrolytes based on polyester diacrylate for lithium power sources

New solid polymer electrolytes are developed for a lithium power source used at the temperatures up to 100°C. Polyester diacrylate (PEDA) based on oligohydroxyethylacrylate and its block copolymers with polyethylene glycol were offered for polymer matrix formation. The salt used was LiClO₄. The ionic conductivity of electrolytes was measured in the range of 20 to 100°C using the electrochemical impedance method. It is shown that the maximum conductivity in the whole temperature range is characteristic of the electrolyte based on the PEDA copolymer and polyethylene glycol condensation product (2.8 × 10^?6 S cm^?1 at 20°C, 1.8 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 95°C).     

Tough Gel Electrolyte Using Double Polymer Network Design for the Safe,Stable Cycling of Lithium Metal Anode

The growth of lithium dendrites and low coulombic efficiency restrict the development of Li metal anodes. Polymer electrolytes are expected to be promising candidates to solve the issue, but ways to obtain a polymer electrolyte that integrates high ionic conductivity and high mechanical toughness is still challenging. By introducing a double polymer network into the electrolyte design to reshape it, a tough polymer electrolyte was developed with high conductivity, and stable operation of lithium metal anodes was further realized. The double network (DNW) gel electrolyte has high modulus of 44.3 MPa and high fracture energy of 69.5 kJ m⁻². The conductivity of DNW gel is 0.81 mS cm⁻¹ at 30 °C. By using this gel electrolyte design, the lithium metal electrode could be cycled more than 400 times with a coulombic efficiency (CE) as high as 96.3 % with carbonate‐based electrolytes.     

Tough Gel Electrolyte Using Double Polymer Network Design for the Safe,Stable Cycling of Lithium Metal Anode

The growth of lithium dendrites and low coulombic efficiency restrict the development of Li metal anodes. Polymer electrolytes are expected to be promising candidates to solve the issue, but ways to obtain a polymer electrolyte that integrates high ionic conductivity and high mechanical toughness is still challenging. By introducing a double polymer network into the electrolyte design to reshape it, a tough polymer electrolyte was developed with high conductivity, and stable operation of lithium metal anodes was further realized. The double network (DNW) gel electrolyte has high modulus of 44.3 MPa and high fracture energy of 69.5 kJ m^?2. The conductivity of DNW gel is 0.81 mS cm^?1 at 30 °C. By using this gel electrolyte design, the lithium metal electrode could be cycled more than 400 times with a coulombic efficiency (CE) as high as 96.3 % with carbonate‐based electrolytes.     

New lithium ion conducting polymer electrolytes based on polysiloxane grafted with Si-tripodand centers

New kind of polymer host for lithium cations has been synthesized by catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction involving hydrogen atoms of a polysiloxane and double bonds of vinyl tris-2-methoxyethoxy silane. The obtained macromolecule can be regarded as siloxane backbone grafted with silicon tripodand elements with very short polyether chains. A family of Li ion conducting polymer electrolyte membranes have been prepared by dissolving LiPF₆ in thus obtained polymer matrix. Exceptionally high room temperature specific conductivities, exceeding 10⁻³ S/cm at 25 °C, have been measured for the studied polymer electrolytes. It is proposed that polyether chains tend to self-assembly in the presence of Li cations and this highly organized arrangement of Li coordination sites creates pathways of high lithium conductivity along the polysiloxane backbones. In addition to that, strong shielding of Li-cations suppresses the formation of ion pairs, thus increasing the charge carrier concentration. The electrolytes can be easily formed into dimensionally stable, flexible membranes.     

Effect of nanoscale CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on PVDF-HFP-based nanocomposite porous polymer electrolytes for Li-ion batteries

New poly (vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP)/CeO₂-based microcomposite porous polymer membranes (MCPPM) and nanocomposite porous polymer membranes (NCPPM) were prepared by phase inversion technique using N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent and deionized water as a nonsolvent. Phase inversion occurred on the MCPPM/NCPPM when it is treated by deionized water (nonsolvent). Microcomposite porous polymer electrolytes (MCPPE) and nanocomposite porous polymer electrolytes (NCPPE) were obtained from their composite porous polymer membranes when immersed in 1.0 M LiClO₄ in a mixture of ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (EC/DMC) (v/v = 1:1) electrolyte solution. The structure and porous morphology of both composite porous polymer membranes was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Thermal behavior of both MCPPM/NCPPM was investigated from DSC analysis. Optimized filler (8 wt% CeO₂) added to the NCPPM increases the porosity (72%) than MCPPM (59%). The results showed that the NCPPE has high electrolyte solution uptake (150%) and maximum ionic conductivity value of 2.47 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The NCPPE (8 wt% CeO₂) between the lithium metal electrodes were found to have low interfacial resistance (760 Ω cm²) and wide electrochemical stability up to 4.7 V (vs Li/Li⁺) investigated by impedance spectra and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), respectively. A prototype battery, which consists of NCPPE between the graphite anode and LiCoO₂ cathode, proves good cycling performance at a discharge rate of C/2 for Li-ion polymer batteries.     

Protective layer with oligo(ethylene glycol) borate anion receptor for lithium metal electrode stabilization

The gel polymer electrolyte based on semi-IPN (interpenetrating polymer network) structure for the protection of lithium metal electrode was successfully developed by ultraviolet (UV) radiation-curing method. A curable mixed solution consists of linear polymer (Kynar 2801), crosslinking agent (1,6-hexanediol diacrylate), liquid electrolyte (ethylene carbonate (EC)/propylene carbonate (PC)/1 M LiClO₄), oligo(ethylene glycol) borate (OEGB) anion receptor, and photoinitiator (methyl benzoylformate). The OEGB was synthesized by the dehydrocoupling reaction of hydroxyl group in di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether with hydrogen in BH₃ and characterized by ¹H NMR. The presence of OEGB anion receptor in the protection layer could lead to an enhancement in the ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and the interfacial properties. The deposited lithium exhibited particle-like shape resulting from the introduction of the protection layer onto the lithium electrode surface. The unit cell based on the lithium anode protected with gel polymer electrolyte containing OEGB showed higher discharge capacity than that of the unit cell without OEGB after 100 cycles at C/2 rate (1.25 mA cm⁻²).