Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid-state polymer
electrolytes
(SPEs) have limited application in lithium metal batteries due to
their low room-temperature ionic conductivity and high interfacial
impedance with electrodes. Constructing efficient enhancers is a promising
way to tackle these critical issues, but still remains a huge challenge.
In this study, a continuous and hierarchical lithium-ion transport
network was constructed by growing a copper-based metal–organic
framework (MOF) (Cu–MOF-74) on a three-dimensional (3D) nonwoven
fabric (NWF). The incorporation of the high-surface-area NWF effectively
prevents MOF particle agglomeration, thereby creating a 3D interconnected
network of ion transportation channels that span both vertically and
laterally. Additionally, MOF nanoparticles with functional groups
exhibit a high affinity toward bis(tri-fluoromethanesulfonyl) imide
anions, which is facilitated by hydrogen bonding between oxygen-containing
functional groups and fluorine, as well as metal–oxygen bonds,
releasing more free lithium ions. The as-prepared electrolyte exhibits
a fast ionic conductivity of 1.0 × 10–4 S cm–1 at 30 °C, a high lithium-ion transference number
of 0.39, and a wide electrochemical window of 4.9 V. The all-solid-state
Li–LiFePO4 cells possess a high initial discharge
capacity of 160.4 mAh g–1 at 0.5C, excellent rate
performance (specific capacity reached 148.6 mAh g–1 at 2.0C), and good cycle stability. This approach presents a cost-effective
and efficient strategy for enhancing PEO-based SPEs, providing a promising
direction for overcoming the challenge of low ionic conductivity in
all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.