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Highly Tough Slide-Crosslinked Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries

  • 0School of Chemistry, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Engineering Research Center of Energy Storage Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.
Angewandte Chemie +

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July 17, 2024

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July 17, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel dynamic slide-crosslinked gel polymer electrolyte (SCGPE) for lithium metal batteries. The SCGPE exhibits enhanced mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, enabling over 1000 stable cycles.

Area Of Science

  • Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background

  • Gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) are crucial for lithium metal batteries (LMBs) but suffer from poor mechanical strength, hindering dendrite resistance and cycling stability.
  • Conventional GPEs often fail to provide adequate mechanical support, leading to capacity fade and safety concerns in LMBs.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To develop a highly stretchable and mechanically robust gel polymer electrolyte for advanced lithium metal batteries.
  • To investigate the impact of polyrotaxane-inspired slide-crosslinking on ionic conductivity and lithium-ion transport dynamics.
  • To evaluate the electrochemical performance and long-term cycling stability of batteries utilizing the novel electrolyte.

Main Methods

  • Synthesis of a dynamic slide-crosslinked gel polymer electrolyte (SCGPE) inspired by polyrotaxane structures.
  • Characterization of SCGPE mechanical properties, including stretchability (970.93%) and strength (1.15 MPa).
  • Measurement of ionic conductivity (1.73×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 30°C) and lithium-ion transference number (0.71).

Main Results

  • The SCGPE demonstrated exceptional stretchability and mechanical strength, effectively buffering electrode volume changes.
  • High ionic conductivity and lithium-ion transference number were achieved due to PR structures and restricted anion movement.
  • Lithium|SCGPE-3|LFP cells exhibited stable cycling over 1000 cycles with 89.6% capacity retention and high rate performance (79.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 16C).

Conclusions

  • The slide-crosslinking strategy offers a promising approach for designing advanced GPEs with superior mechanical and electrochemical properties for lithium metal batteries.
  • The developed SCGPE significantly enhances the cycling stability and performance of lithium metal batteries, addressing key limitations of conventional electrolytes.
  • This work provides a new avenue for creating robust and efficient electrolytes for next-generation energy storage devices.

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