A high strength asymmetric polymer–inorganic composite solid electrolyte for solid-state Li-ion batteries

Ceramic-Polymer Composite Solid-State Electrolytes for Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries: Mechanism, Strategy, and Prospect

The low energy density and safety problems of lithium-ion batteries based on liquid electrolyte have set off a new wave of high specific capacity and high safety battery design to meet the need of future market. Solid-state lithium metal battery has been widely concerned for its high energy density, safety, and electrochemical stability. Especially, polymer-based solid-state electrolytes (polymer SSEs) have attracted much attention due to the good interfacial contact, flexible mechanical properties, and physical/chemical stability. However, the deficiencies of low ionic conductivity and weak mechanical strength limit the further development of polymer SSEs. Here, hybrid ceramic-polymer composite solid-state electrolytes (CSSEs), specifically consisted of polymers and inorganic ceramic active fillers, can achieve good interfacial contact, high ionic conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and Li dendrite growth inhibition. Based on the intrinsic characteristics of polymers, this review expounds the strategies to improve the performance of ceramic-polymer CSSEs. Especially, the screening and modification strategies of polymer and ceramic active fillers in recent years, including structural design, surface modification, and interface engineering, are reviewed. Finally, the core ideas of the existing designs, and proposed feasible solutions, aiming at providing future development and industrialization of ceramic-polymer CSSEs are summarized.

Synergistic effect of Ti3C2Tx MXene/PAN nanofiber and LLZTO particles on high-performance PEO-based solid electrolyte for lithium metal battery

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have been considered the most promising separators for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) due to their ease of processing and low cost. However, the practical applications of SPEs in ASSLMBs are limited by their low ionic conductivities and mechanical strength. Herein, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected MXene (Ti3C2Tx) network and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) particles synergistically reinforced polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based SPE, where the association of Li+ with ether-oxygen in PEO could be significantly weakened through the Lewis acid-base interactions between the electron-absorbing group (Ti-F, -O-) of Ti3C2Tx and Li+. Besides, the TFSI- in lithium salts could be immobilized by hydrogen bonds from the Ti-OH of Ti3C2Tx. The 3D interconnected Ti3C2Tx network not only alleviated the agglomeration of inorganic fillers (LLZTO), but also improved the mechanical strength of composite solid electrolyte (CSE). Consequently, the assembled Li||CSE||Li symmetric battery showed excellent cycling stability at 35 ℃ (stable cycling over 3000 h at 0.1 mA cm-2, 0.1 mAh cm-2) and -2 ℃ (stable cycling over 2500 h at 0.05 mA cm-2, 0.05 mAh cm-2). Impressively, the LiFePO4||CSE||Li battery showed a high discharge capacity of 145.3 mAh/g at 0.3 C after 300 cycles at 35 ℃. This rational structural design provided a new strategy for the preparation of high-performance solid-state electrolytes for lithium metal batteries.

Highly Ionic Conductive, Self-Healing, Li10GeP2S12-Filled Composite Solid Electrolytes Based on Reversibly Interlocked Macromolecule Networks for Lithium Metal Batteries with Improved Cycling Stability

Ceramic-polymer composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) have attracted great attention by combining the advantages of polymer electrolytes and inorganic ceramic electrolytes. Herein, Li10GeP2S12 (LGPS) particles are incorporated into poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based reversibly interlocked polymer networks (RILNs) derived from the topological rearrangement of two PEO networks cross-linked by reversible imine bonds and disulfide linkages. A series of highly ionic conductive, self-healing CSEs are obtained accordingly. The interlocking architecture successfully inhibits PEO crystallization, increasing the amorphous phase for Li ion transportation, and stabilizes the conductive pathways of LGPS particles by its unique confinement effect. Meanwhile, the LGPS particles cooperate with the RILN matrix, forming a filler-polymer interfacial phase for additional Li ion transportation and strengthening and toughening the resultant CSEs via the strong intermolecular Li+-O2- interactions. Furthermore, the dynamic characteristics of the included reversible bonds ensure a multiple intrinsic self-healing capability. Consequently, the CSEs containing 15 wt % LGPS deliver a high ionic conductivity (1.06 × 10-3 S cm-1) and high Li ion transference number (∼0.6) at 25 °C, a wide electrochemical stability window (>4.9 V), good mechanical properties (0.63 MPa, 377%), and a stable CSE/Li anode interface. The integrated Li/CSE/LiFePO4 battery exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 110.8 mAh g-1 at 1 C (25 °C) and a capacity retention of 76.9% after 200 cycles. Thanks to the healability, the damaged CSEs can regain the structural integrity, ion conductive capability, and cycling performance of the assembled cells. The present work provides an effective strategy to fabricate CSEs for lithium metal batteries that are workable at ambient temperature.

Carbon Nanofibers-Based Anodes for Potassium-Ion Battery

In recent years, with the global warming getting worse and increasing demand for energy, countries around the world are trying to develop new energy storage technologies to solve this problem. Currently, potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) have attracted tremendous attention from researchers as low-cost and high-performance energy storage devices. However, due to the huge ionic radius of K+, PIBs face significant volume expansion during cycling, which can easily lead to the collapse of electrode structures. In addition, the poor diffusion kinetics of K+ seriously affect the electrochemical performance of the battery. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs)-based materials (including CNFs, metal/CNFs composites, chalcogenide/CNFs composites, and other CNFs-based materials) are widely used as PIBs electrode anode materials due to their three-dimensional conductive network, heteroatom doping and excellent mechanical properties. This review discusses in detail the research progress of CNFs-based materials in PIBs, including material preparation, structural design, and performance optimization. On this basis, this article explores the key issues faced by CNFs-based materials and future development directions, and proposes improvement suggestions for providing new ideas for the development of CNFs-based materials.

Gradual gradient distribution composite solid electrolyte for solid-state lithium metal batteries with ameliorated electrochemical performance

Composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) have emerged as promising contenders for tackling the safety concerns associated with lithium metal batteries and attaining elevated energy densities. Nonetheless, augmenting ion conductivity and curtailing the growth of lithium dendrites within the electrolyte remain pressing challenges. We have developed CSEs featuring a unique structure, in which Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) is distributed in a gradient decline from the center to both sides (GCSE). This distinctive arrangement encompasses heightened polymer content at the edges, thereby enhancing the compatibility between CSEs and electrode materials. Concurrently, the escalated LLZTO content at the center functions to impede the proliferation of lithium dendrites. The uniform gradient distribution state facilitates the consistent and rapid transport of lithium ions. At room temperature, GCSE exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.5 × 10-4 S cm-1, with stable constant current cycling of lithium for over 1200 h. Furthermore, CR2032 coin batteries with a LiFePO4 (LFP)|GCSE|Li configuration demonstrate excellent rate performance and cycling stability, yielding a discharge capacity of 120 mA h g-1 at 0.5C and retaining 90 % capacity after 200 cycles at 60 °C. Flexible solid electrolytes with gradient structures offer substantial advantages in dealing with ion conductivity and inhibition of lithium dendrites, thereby expected to propel the practical application of lithium metal batteries.

An LLTO-containing heterogeneous composite electrolyte with a stable interface for solid-state lithium metal batteries

The interaction between Li0.33La0.56TiO3 (LLTO) and metallic lithium leads to severe interfacial instability of LLTO-containing solid-state electrolytes with a lithium metal anode. To improve the interfacial stability, a heterogeneous composite electrolyte PVDF-HFP@LLTO/PEO (PLTP) is designed and fabricated with a PEO electrolyte layer adhered to the PVDF-HFP@LLTO (PLT) electrolyte membrane. The PLTP heterogeneous composite electrolyte exhibits a superior ionic conductivity of 3.23 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 60 °C and a highly stable electrochemical window of up to 4.7 V (vs. Li/Li+). Remarkably, taking advantage of the effective protection of the PEO electrolyte layer, the chemical stability at the electrolyte/lithium metal anode interface is significantly enhanced. As a result, solid-state Li||LiFePO4 and Li||LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 batteries with the heterogeneous electrolyte exhibit an impressive electrochemical performance with high Coulombic efficiency and stable cycling capability. The strengthened interfacial stability enables the heterogeneous electrolyte to be a promising alternative for the further development of solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Robust and Manufacturable Lithium Lanthanum Titanate-Based Solid-State Electrolyte Thin Films Deposited in Open Air

State-of-the-art solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are limited in their energy density and processability based on thick, brittle pellets, which are generally hot pressed in vacuum over the course of several hours. We report on a high-throughput, open-air process for printable thin-film ceramic SSEs in a remarkable one-minute time frame using a lithium lanthanum titanium oxide (LLTO)-based SSE that we refer to as robust LLTO (R-LLTO). Powder XRD analysis revealed that the main phase of R-LLTO is polycrystalline LLTO, accompanied by selectively retained crystalline precursor phases. R-LLTO is highly dense and closely matched to the stoichiometry of LLTO with some heterogeneity throughout the film. A minimal presence of lithium carbonate is identified despite processing fully in ambient conditions. The LLTO films exhibit remarkable mechanical properties, demonstrating both flexibility with a low modulus of ∼35 GPa and a high fracture toughness of >2.0 . We attribute this mechanical robustness to several factors, including grain boundary strengthening, the presence of precursor crystalline phases, and a decrease in crystallinity or ordering caused by ultrafast processing. The creation of R-LLTO-a ceramic material with elastic properties that are closer to polymers with higher fracture toughness-enables new possibilities for the design of robust solid-state batteries.

High-Voltage Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries with Stable Anodic and Cathodic Interfaces by a Laminated Solid Polymer Electrolyte

Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) is quite an attractive candidate for constructing high-voltage Li metal batteries (LMBs) with high energy density and excellent safety. However, sim ultaneous achievement of high-voltage stability against the cathode and good compatibility with the Li anode remains challenging for the current SPE technology. Herein, a dual-layered solid electrolyte (DLSE) consisting of an oxidation-resistant poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) layer facing a high-potential cathode and a reduction-compatible poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) layer incorporated by Li_6.4La₃Zr_1.4Ta_0.6O₁₂ (LLZTO) nanoparticles and an ionic liquid plasticizer in contact with a Li anode was fabricated. The uniquely designed DLSE holds favorable overall properties in ionic conductivity, Li⁺ transference number, and mechanical strength. Moreover, the combined advantages of two polymer electrolyte layers greatly address the interface issues on both the cathode and anode. Consequently, the high-voltage LMBs employing the DLSE exhibit excellent room-temperature performances including high rate capacity and long cycle life.