A Comparatively Low Cost, Easy-To-Fabricate, and Environmentally Friendly PVDF/Garnet Composite Solid Electrolyte for...

Solid electrolytes may be the answer to overcome many obstacles in developing the next generation of renewable batteries. A novel composite solid electrolyte (CSE) composed of a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) base with an active nanofiber filler of aluminum-doped garnet Li ceramic, Li salt lithium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), Li fluoride (LiF) stabilizing additive, and plasticizer sulfolane was fabricated. In a Li|CSE|LFP cell with this CSE, a high capacity of 168 mAh g^-1 with a retention of 98% after 200 cycles was obtained, representing the best performance to date of a solid electrolyte with a PVDF base and a garnet inorganic filler. In a Li metal cell with Si and Li, it yielded a discharge capacity of 2867 mAh g^-1 and was cycled 60 times at a current density of 100 mAh g^-1, a significant step forward in utilizing a solid electrolyte of any kind with the desirable Si anode. In producing this CSE, the components and fabrication process were chosen to have a lower cost and improved safety and environmental impact compared with the current state-of-the-art Li-ion battery.