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In Situ Polymerized Gel Electrolytes on Na-Metal/Electrodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries
Debalina Deb1, Sanhita Pal2, Yuliia Kravets3
1Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560012, India.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|October 7, 2025
Summary
A novel gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) offers a stable, solid-like alternative for high-performance sodium-ion batteries. This GPE enhances battery safety and longevity by preventing dendrite growth and ensuring stable interfaces.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Conventional liquid electrolytes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) pose safety risks due to flammability and dendrite formation.
- Ceramic solid electrolytes, while safer, often suffer from poor interfacial contact and low ionic conductivity.
- Developing solid-like electrolytes with high ionic conductivity and stable interfaces is crucial for advanced SIBs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a novel solid sodium-ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for high-performance SIBs.
- To evaluate the electrochemical performance, interfacial stability, and safety aspects of the developed GPE.
- To demonstrate the GPE's compatibility with different electrode materials, including sodium metal and Na3V2(PO4)3.
Main Methods:
- In situ polymerization of liquid electrolyte and polymer precursors within a porous electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane.
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to analyze ionic conductivity and solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth.
- Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling to assess battery performance and stability.
Main Results:
- The GPE achieved high sodium-ion conductivity (≈1 mS cm⁻¹) and a transference number of 0.63.
- Exhibited a wide electrochemical stability window of 5.2 V and excellent interfacial stability with sodium metal.
- Mitigated sodium dendrite growth, enabling stable cycling over hundreds of cycles with low overpotentials.
- Demonstrated stable SEI formation over extended periods, unlike liquid electrolytes.
- Achieved remarkable cyclability in Na||Na3V2(PO4)3 and symmetric batteries, and with Sn-based alloy anodes.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized GPE serves as a promising solid-like electrolyte for high-performance and safer sodium-ion batteries.
- The GPE's robust interfacial properties and dendrite suppression capabilities significantly enhance battery cycle life and stability.
- The developed GPE demonstrates versatility, showing potential for use with various anode materials beyond hard carbons.
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