Mitigating Gas Evolution in Electron Beam-Induced Gel Polymer Electrolytes Through Bi-Functional Cross-Linkable...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• High-capacity lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) face safety issues due to flammable liquid electrolytes and internal side reactions.
• Hazardous gas release is a primary concern, impacting battery safety and longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a safer alternative to conventional liquid electrolytes in LIBs.
• To enhance the interfacial compatibility and electrochemical performance of LIBs.

Main Methods:

• An electron beam (E-beam)-induced gel polymer electrolyte (E-Gel) was synthesized using dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (DPH) as a bifunctional cross-linkable additive (CIA).
• DPH acted as an additive to form protective layers and as a cross-linker to create a polymer framework via E-beam irradiation.
• Electrochemical performance was evaluated using 1.2 Ah pouch cells.

Main Results:

• The E-Gel demonstrated superior interfacial compatibility, promoting lithium-ion diffusion.
• Gas release was reduced by 2.5 times compared to commercial liquid electrolytes during initial formation.
• Excellent reversible capacity retention was achieved even after prolonged cycling at 55 °C.

Conclusions:

• The synergistic combination of bifunctional CIA and E-beam technology offers a promising approach for manufacturing safe and high-capacity LIBs.
• This E-Gel technology paves the way for commercially viable and safer lithium-ion battery solutions.