Directional Ion Transport Enabled by Self-Luminous Framework for High-Performance Quasi-Solid-State Lithium Metal...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Composite gel polymer electrolytes (CGPEs) are promising for lithium metal batteries due to improved safety and cycling stability.
• Poor interfacial compatibility between ceramic fillers and polymer phases in CGPEs hinders lithium-ion transport and overall cell performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel CGPE with enhanced interfacial compatibility for improved lithium metal battery performance.
• To investigate a fluorescent ceramic nanowire network for controlled polymer growth and directional lithium-ion flux.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a fluorescent ceramic nanowire network to guide polymer monomer nucleation and growth.
• Coating ceramic nanowires with poly(ethylene oxide) to create a structured electrolyte matrix.
• Characterization of the CGPE using X-ray computed tomography to analyze ion diffusion and lithium deposition.

Main Results:

• The developed CGPE exhibits an ordered polymer arrangement and tight combination with ceramic nanowires, facilitating directional lithium-ion flux.
• Dendrite-free lithium deposition was observed on the metallic anode.
• A quasi-solid-state Li||LiFePO4 cell demonstrated high performance, achieving 143.3 mAh g⁻¹ after 120 cycles at a mass loading of 12 mg cm⁻².

Conclusions:

• The novel CGPE design effectively addresses interfacial compatibility issues, leading to enhanced electrochemical performance in lithium metal batteries.
• The fluorescent ceramic nanowire framework promotes directional ion transport and uniform lithium deposition, crucial for battery longevity and safety.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for advancing composite electrolytes in various energy storage applications.