Polymer additives in liquid electrolytes for advanced lithium batteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial energy storage devices due to their high energy density and performance.
• Liquid electrolytes are key for ion transport but require additives to optimize performance and safety.
• Previous reviews focused on small molecule additives; this review highlights polymer additives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application and functional mechanisms of polymer additives in liquid electrolytes for LIBs.
• To categorize polymer additives based on their roles and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
• To provide perspectives on future trends for polymer additives in energy storage.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on recent research on polymer additives in liquid lithium batteries.
• Categorization of polymer additives into five functional groups: molecular crowding agents, film-forming agents, HF scavengers, antifreeze agents, and flame retardants.
• Analysis of the mechanisms through which polymer additives influence electrolyte properties and battery performance.

Main Results:

• Polymer additives play critical roles in regulating lithium ion solvation, solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation, and enhancing battery safety and low-temperature performance.
• The review categorizes polymer additives by function, detailing their specific contributions and limitations.
• Recent advancements in polymer additive research for LIBs are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Polymer additives offer significant potential for improving the efficiency, safety, and operational range of liquid electrolytes in LIBs.
• Understanding the mechanisms of polymer additives is crucial for designing next-generation battery electrolytes.
• Further research is needed to overcome limitations and explore new development trends for polymer additives in energy storage devices.