Research Progress on the Application of Biomass Fibers in Lithium-Ion Battery Separators

The separator is a key component of lithium-ion batteries, and its properties play a crucial role in the performance of such batteries. However, the most widely used polyolefin separators are not only made from non-renewable resources such as petroleum, but also have poor wettability to electrolytes, and their low melting points may cause short circuits or even explosions. Therefore, advanced separators that meet the increasing requirements of such batteries are urgently needed. Compared to polyolefin separators, renewable biomass fiber-based separators have better compatibility with electrolytes, higher thermal stability, and are naturally abundant. Their use is not only in line with sustainable development, but it also lowers their material cost. Therefore, biomass fiber-based separators are considered a promising candidate for replacing polyolefin separators for lithium-ion batteries in the future. In this article, studies on the preparation and application of biomass fiber-based separators in lithium-ion batteries in recent years are reviewed, looking forward to their future development, with the aim of providing a reference for researchers.