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Ionic Liquid-Softened Polymer Electrolyte for Anti-Drying Flexible Zinc Ion Batteries
Donghong Wang1,2, Xun Guo2, Ze Chen2
1Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health Engineering, 11 Floor, 19 W, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong 999077, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 6, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a novel polymer electrolyte for zinc ion batteries, enhancing conductivity and stability. The improved electrolyte enables dendrite-free zinc plating and supports flexible device applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Solid polymer electrolytes offer a strategy to mitigate metal dendrites and achieve high-voltage performance in batteries.
- Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based electrolytes face challenges in zinc ion batteries due to low ionic conductivity and poor interfacial adhesion with zinc.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a modified polyethylene oxide (PEO) solid polymer electrolyte with enhanced ionic conductivity and mechanical properties for zinc ion batteries.
- To investigate the use of an ionic liquid and ZnO nanofillers to improve PEO membrane performance and stability.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Emim]OTF) as a plasticizer into a PEO polymer matrix.
- Addition of ZnO nanofillers to further enhance the mechanical properties and plasticity of the polymer electrolyte membrane.
- Characterization of ionic conductivity, mechanical properties (modulus and softness), and electrochemical performance in a Zn-MnO2 battery.
Main Results:
- The optimized polymer electrolyte achieved a high ionic conductivity of 2.3 × 10-3 S cm-1 at room temperature with a softness of 5.1 mm.
- The modified electrolyte demonstrated reversible zinc stripping/plating without dendrite formation, facilitating stable battery operation.
- A Zn-MnO2 battery utilizing the developed electrolyte achieved a capacity of 137 mAh g-1 at 30 mA g-1 and showed stable output under deformation.
Conclusions:
- The combination of [Emim]OTF and ZnO in PEO creates a soft, mechanically robust solid polymer electrolyte with excellent ionic conductivity for zinc ion batteries.
- The enhanced interfacial contact and mechanical properties contribute to dendrite-free zinc plating and stable electrochemical performance, even in flexible devices.
- This approach shows promise for developing high-performance, safe, and flexible solid-state zinc batteries.
