Utilizing ionic liquids (ILs) with
low flammability as the precursor
component for a gel polymer electrolyte is a smart strategy out of
safety concerns. Solvate ionic liquids (SILs) consist of equimolar
lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and tetraglyme, alleviating
the main problems of high viscosity and low Li+ conductivity
of conventional ILs. In this study, within a very short time of 30
s, a SIL turns immobile using efficient and controllable UV-curing
with an ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) network,
forming a homogeneous SIL-based gel polymer electrolyte (SGPE) with
enhanced thermal stability (216 °C), robust mechanical strength
(compression modulus: 1.701 MPa), and high ionic conductivity (0.63
mS cm–1 at room temperature). A Li|SGPE|LiFePO4 cell demonstrates high charge/discharge reversibility and
cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 99.7% after 750
cycles and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%, owing to its
excellent electrochemical compatibility with Li-metal. A close-contact
electrode/electrolyte interface is formed by in situ curing of the
electrolyte on the electrode surface, which enables the pouch full
cell to work stably under the conditions of cutting/bending. In view
of the excellent mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical performances
of SGPE, it is believed to be a promising gel polymer electrolyte
for constructing high-safety lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.