A core-shell structured polyacrylonitrile@poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) microfiber complex membrane...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for energy storage.
• Separator performance is critical for LIB safety and efficiency.
• Current separators, like polyethylene (PE), have limitations in thermal stability and ionic conductivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel core-shell structured polyacrylonitrile@poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PAN@PVDF-HFP) microfiber complex membrane.
• To evaluate its potential as a high-performance separator for lithium-ion batteries.
• To compare its properties and performance against traditional PE separators.

Main Methods:

• Co-axial electrospinning was employed to fabricate the PAN@PVDF-HFP core-shell microfiber membranes.
• Characterization included analysis of structure, surface morphology, porosity, and thermal properties.
• Electrochemical performance was assessed using battery assembly and cycling tests.

Main Results:

• The PAN@PVDF-HFP membranes exhibited higher porosity and superior thermal stability compared to PE separators.
• Enhanced electrolyte wettability and higher ionic conductivity were observed for the novel membranes.
• Batteries using the PAN@PVDF-HFP separator showed improved cycling stability and rate performance.

Conclusions:

• The core-shell PAN@PVDF-HFP microfiber complex membrane is a promising advanced separator for lithium-ion batteries.
• Its enhanced properties lead to significant improvements in battery performance and safety.
• This fabrication method offers a facile route to high-performance battery separators.