Polymer‐Clay Nanocomposite Solid‐State Electrolyte with Selective Cation Transport Boosting and Retarded Lithium Dendrite Formation. Issue 47 (9th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jeon, Young Min; Kim, Seulwoo; Lee, Minhwan; Lee, Won Bo; Park, Jong Hyeok
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 10:Issue 47(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-11-09
• Subjects: lithium‐ion batteries -- montmorillonite -- organic clays -- polymer electrolytes -- semi‐IPN structures; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202003114
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: Commercialized lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) with a liquid electrolyte have a high potential for combustion or explosion. The use of solid electrolytes in LIBs is a promising way to overcome the drawbacks of conventional liquid electrolyte‐based systems, but they generally have a lower ionic conductivity and lithium ion mobility. Here, a UV‐crosslinked composite polymer‐clay electrolyte (U‐CPCE) that is composed of a durable semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) ion transportive matrix (ETPTA/PVdF‐HFP) and 2D ultrathin clay nanosheets that are fabricated by a one‐step in situ UV curing method, are reported. The U‐CPCE exhibits robust and flexible properties with an ionic conductivity of more than 10 −3 S cm −1 at room temperature with the help of exfoliated clay nanosheets. As a result, the U‐CPCE‐based LIBs show an initial discharge capacity of 152 mAh g −1 (at 0.2 C for a LiCoO2 half‐cell), which is comparable to that of conventional liquid electrolyte‐based cells. In addition, they show excellent cycling performance (96% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 0.5 C) due to a significantly enhanced Li + transference number ( t Li+ = 0.78) and inhibition of lithium dendrite formation on the lithium metal surface. Furthermore, a molecular dynamics (MD) study is conducted to elucidate the mechanism of improving ionic conductivity. The U‐CPCE design can offer opportunities for future all‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries. Abstract : Montmorillonite clay is an attractive material, which is eco‐friendly and abundant on earth. By applying it to an electrolyte, it is possible to design a solid‐state electrolyte for lithium‐ion batteries with improved ionic conductivity, lithium ion transference number ( t + = 0.78), and stability with lithium metal anodes.