Lithium Salt Catalyzed Ring-Opening Polymerized Solid-State Electrolyte with Comparable Ionic Conductivity and Better...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are crucial for portable electronics and energy storage.
• Interfacial issues and electrolyte-electrode compatibility hinder battery performance.
• In situ polymerization offers a promising solution for enhancing battery electrolytes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) using in situ thermal polymerization.
• To investigate the structural, physicochemical, interfacial, and electrochemical properties of the synthesized SPEs.
• To evaluate the potential of these SPEs for advanced lithium-ion battery applications.

Main Methods:

• In situ thermal polymerization of oxetane-based monomers with LiFSI initiator.
• Characterization using FTIR, 1H-NMR, and FE-SEM.
• Electrochemical evaluation including EIS, LSV, and chronoamperometry.

Main Results:

• SPEs demonstrated good thermal stability up to 210 °C and lower activation energy.
• High ionic conductivity exceeding 0.1 mS/cm at 30 °C was achieved.
• SPE-2.5 exhibited excellent ionic conductivity (1.3 mS/cm at 80 °C), superior interfacial compatibility, and a high Li-ion transference number.
• SPE-2.5 showed comparable coulombic efficiency in a half-cell configuration.

Conclusions:

• In situ polymerization is an effective strategy for creating high-performance SPEs.
• The developed SPEs offer a promising pathway for enhancing the safety and efficiency of lithium-ion batteries.
• Further research into these SPEs could accelerate the development of next-generation energy storage solutions.