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Synthesis of Ionic Liquid Based Electrolytes, Assembly of Li-ion Batteries, and Measurements of Performance at High Temperature
Published on: December 20, 2016
Tailoring electrolyte phase separation for high-rate solid-state lithium metal batteries
Shiyu Zhang1, Jiantao Li2, Benli Jiang3
1State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Nature Communications
|June 8, 2026
Summary
A novel LiTFSI-mediated in-situ polymerization strategy creates dual-phase polymer electrolytes for safer solid-state lithium metal batteries. This method enhances ionic conductivity and interface stability, paving the way for high-performance energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Solid polymer electrolytes offer safety and flexibility for lithium metal batteries but face challenges with low ionic conductivity and interfacial stability.
- Current methods for improving ion transport, like polymerization-induced phase separation, often require expensive and complex external components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cost-effective and scalable in-situ polymerization strategy for creating advanced polymer electrolytes.
- To enhance ionic conductivity and interfacial stability in solid polymer electrolytes for lithium metal batteries.
Main Methods:
- A LiTFSI-mediated in-situ polymerization strategy was employed using a single solvent to induce controllable phase separation in a poly(vinylene carbonate) matrix.
- Electrostatic interactions between lithium salts and the polymer were utilized to create self-organized dual phases.
Main Results:
- The developed poly(vinylene carbonate) (PVC) electrolyte exhibited tunable ionic conductivity ranging from 0.20 to 0.92 mS/cm at 25°C.
- A high lithium-ion transference number of 0.78 was achieved, indicating efficient ion transport.
- Li|PVC-24h|LiFePO4 cells demonstrated a capacity of 121.4 mAh/g at 5C with 90% capacity retention after 4000 cycles.
Conclusions:
- The LiTFSI-mediated in-situ polymerization is a scalable approach for fabricating high-performance polymer electrolytes.
- The self-organized dual-phase structure effectively balances mechanical robustness and efficient ion transport for solid-state lithium metal batteries.
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