Poly(ethylene oxide)-Li₁₀SnP₂S₁₂ Composite Polymer Electrolyte Enables High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Solid-state lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries offer high theoretical energy density but face challenges with electrolyte performance.
• Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) based electrolytes suffer from low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial stability.
• Developing advanced electrolytes is crucial for enabling practical solid-state Li-S battery technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate composite polymer electrolyte membranes by incorporating Li10SnP2S12 into a PEO matrix.
• To investigate the effect of Li10SnP2S12 on the ionic conductivity, mechanical properties, and interfacial stability of PEO-based electrolytes.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance of solid-state Li-S batteries utilizing the developed composite electrolytes.

Main Methods:

• Solution-casting method for fabricating composite polymer electrolyte membranes.
• Incorporation of Li10SnP2S12 into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix.
• Electrochemical characterization including ionic conductivity measurements and Li-S cell testing.

Main Results:

• The optimal PEO-1%Li10SnP2S12 electrolyte achieved an ionic conductivity of 1.69 × 10^-4 S cm^-1 at 50 °C with enhanced mechanical strength.
• The composite electrolyte exhibited lower interfacial resistance and improved stability with the lithium anode compared to pure PEO/LiTFSI.
• Li-S cells with PEO-1%Li10SnP2S12 demonstrated high discharge capacity (ca. 1000 mA h g^-1 at 60 °C, ca. 800 mA h g^-1 at 50 °C) and good cycling stability.

Conclusions:

• Incorporation of Li10SnP2S12 into PEO effectively enhances ionic conductivity, mechanical properties, and interfacial stability.
• The composite electrolyte significantly improves the electrochemical performance of solid-state Li-S batteries.
• The PEO-1%Li10SnP2S12 composite electrolyte presents a promising alternative for advanced solid-state battery applications.